Bridge City baseball coach Chad Landry is one of the most respected high school baseball coaches in the area. He’s been coaching for 23 years, the last 17 at Bridge City where they’ve made the playoffs every season. And with all of that success he may be doing his best coaching job this campaign.
The Cards are in the 4A D2 State Semifinals for the first time in Landry’s tenure and the first time since 2006. BC (26-6-1) will travel to Navasota for a best of three series against Wimberley beginning Thursday at 7pm. Games 2/3 will start at 2pm on Friday. The winner gets the winner between Spring Hill and Brock. That series starts at DBU’s Horner Ballpark on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with Game 2 on Friday at 5pm., and Gm.3 Saturday, at 2:30 p.m. The State Championship (one) game is at 9am on Friday, June 6 inside Dell Diamond.
The Cards are 7-1 in the playoffs with wins over Hudson, Hardin-Jefferson, LaGrange, and Salado. “We went into the playoffs reeling after those two tough losses to LCM,” he said. BC won the flip for a one gamer against Hudson. “We bounced back in that one gamer against Hudson and then won the two out of three against H-J and we’ve felt good about going with a series since.”
Landry hasn’t been afraid to tweak the lineup many times this season, trying to find what will work. “What we’ve really worked on is getting the guys to buy in on being a tough out.” Something they did really well in that 10 run 6th against Salado.
The “team effort” certainly defines the Cardinals in the postseason. Each series someone else has stepped up in the big game. Ashton Sumrall had the go ahead homerun against Hudson, which was career win 450 for Landry. Owen Tucker was big on the hill in Game Three against the Hawks. Slade Landry was 4-4 with a HR against LaGrange. Brady Havard had the big Game One win vs Salado and Carson Bounds put them away with the grand slam in Game Two.
What about Landry getting to coach his sophomore son Slade, who was born shortly after he got the job? “It’s not always line drives and butterflies,” Poppa Landry said with a smile. “He’s done a good job.” Landry added his son hasn’t seen many VCR tapes of his playing days but he can’t help but notice the similarities. “The way he carries himself is eerily similar to me.”
Pops played at Nederland where they reached the State Tournament in 1995 and 1997. He played at Seminole in Oklahoma and at Texas Tech. He said he’s always wanted to be a baseball coach. Besides playing year round, his father Clint coached the Mid-County Babe Ruth teams for over 30 years.
Landry admitted longevity in the game has changed his coaching philosophy a little. “It’s still about winning,” he said. “But it’s more about being around young people, watching them mature, watching the boys become a team each season.”
So what does Landry know about Wimberley? “Well they’re in the final four so everyone left is good,” he said. “I really think they’re similar to us on the field and at the plate. And we’re both pretty deep with pitching.”
Wimberley, looking for their first trip to the State Championship game, has been starting Gentry McGinnis in Game One during the playoffs. He’s won three of those starts. The only loss was a 2-1 decision to Sweeny.
They also have Ty Thames who is going to Rice on a football scholarship. Besides being labeled their best hitter the big fella reportedly gets his fastball in the low to mid-nineties. They’ve also needed two Game Three wins to reach the semifinals and sophomore Jayden Hall has gotten the job done.
Wimberley (24-7-1) has defeated Lago Vista, Pleasanton, Sweeny, and Sinton to reach Thursday’s game.
For those making their first trip to Navasota, the school and stadium are right off the Hwy. 6 Loop. There are several sit down restaurants and fast food establishments as well as a gas station within a mile of Boekner Field, built in 2021. And you’ll be happy to know the stands are covered.
-Gary Stelly, KOGT-
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