The Lady Dragons beat the Tem-Cats 5-3 in a scrimmage earlier this year.
Given as close as that game was, Temple, the fourth-place finisher from District 13-5A, feels confident it can oust Round Rock, which shared the 14-5A championship with Leander and Round Rock Westwood.
“We felt like we competed well enough in that game that it gives us a little bit of confidence going into it,” Temple first-year coach Steve Prentiss said. “We don’t feel like we’re going to be overmatched.”
Temple (10-19) opens its best-of-three series against Round Rock - 14-5A’s No. 1 seed because it has the best overall record - at 7 p.m. today at Tem-Cat Field.
Game 2 of the series is at 6 p.m. Friday at Round Rock, with Game 3 to follow 30 minutes later if necessary.
Though the Tem-Cats have dropped two straight games heading into the postseason, the losses came against playoff teams Bryan and Belton.
“People can say what they want about our district, but the top of our district is probably as good as there is,” Prentiss said. “Finishing up with games against Bryan and Belton, if that can’t get you ready for the playoffs, I don’t know what will.”
The problem was, Temple allowed a combined 28 runs in those two games.
That’s something that can’t happen if the Tem-Cats hope to avoid first-round losses in back-to-back seasons.
Despite troubles against 13-5A’s top teams, Temple has had solid pitching throughout the year thanks to freshman Elisa Espinoza.
“At the 5A level, when you have to depend on a freshman pticher and she comes in and no doubt gets you in the playoffs, you’ve got to be proud,” Prentiss said. “We knew she was special. We expect big things out of her from here on out, too.”
As confident as Prentiss is in Espinoza, he’s equally confident in his team’s ability to score runs against Round Rock’s pitching.
The Lady Dragons have allowed an average of at least three runs per game. In 13-5A play, the Tem-Cats scored more than five a game.
“That tells me people have been able to put the ball in play against them,” Prentiss said.
If the Tem-Cats do put the ball in play against the Lady Dragons, Prentiss feels like the series could come down to defense.
When Temple has struggled, it’s committed errors and helped opponents extend innings.
“We can’t committ errors . . . we’re not good enough to overcome a bunch of errors,” Prentiss said. “We can’t beat ourselves, which has been part of problem at times this year.”
Opening the series at home, Prentiss and the Tem-Cats know they need to steal a win at home to avoid needing two wins in one day to extend their season.
“Obviously, we’re a young team and we’re going to have to play our best game . . . and bring our best game every week right now to be able to stay in the game and compete.
“I feel good about our chances."
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
