When two schools are more than 100 miles apart and you have to play each other in the playoffs, most people think you just pick the school in the middle of the two and play there. That’s just not the case. Especially when you’re talking about the postseason in baseball. Sometimes you need a little travel agent experience.
Orangefield will face Huntington in a best of three on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7pm. Games 1 and 2 will be in Huntsville and if necessary Game 3 will be in Jasper. That’s not exactly how Coach Jake Nash thought it was going to go.
Note the skip over Thursday. Huntington graduates on Thursday so you’re having to change the routine that got you there.
Nash thought they had Sam Houston State in Huntsville for the Region III Final but they got bumped for a 4A series. Don Sanders Field would’ve given the fans plenty of room and most coaches like a bigger field in the postseason.
Lamar was a consideration and possibly locked up for a Game 3 but the Cards have reached the SLC Championship and will host McNeese. So Vincent Beck is out.
Orangefield graduates Saturday morning. Nash wanted a late start if a Gm. 3 is needed so his nine seniors have some time with family. Most Game Threes are a daytime affair. Jasper has smaller seating, but it’s not as far of a drive following graduation.
Most schools are no longer playing baseball so they’ve closed shop for the summer and don’t want to host a series. Or they don’t have enough workers to host a series. And sometimes there’s some gamesmanship between coaches. But this week, it was just about finding a way with all of the distractions.
So after a few calls Huntsville High School has agreed to host the first two games. They have new facilities that opened in 2024.
And if all of those changes and decisions weren’t enough…rain is in the forecast all three days. ” Like I told you the other day, if adversity is a factor, I like our chances,” said the positive thinking second year head coach. “This is a resilient bunch of kids.”
If the Bobcats are resilient, you could call the Red Devils “experienced.” Huntington beat Whitney in the fourth round last year before losing to London in the semifinals. “I think we’ve been on a collision course with Huntington,” Nash said. “We would’ve played them last year if we had beat Whitney. And we would’ve played them in the Region Final in 2024 but they lost to Franklin the week before.”
Nash was an assistant at Orangefield under Tim Erickson, who moved over to PNG. And both coaches find themselves in the Region Final this week.
“I think it’s awesome,” Nash said. “Tim has been a mentor and we talk all the time. It’s great to share this opportunity.”
Erickson’s Indians will be playing Kingwood Park, coached by LCM grad Chris Buechner. Buechner led KP to the 5AD2 Championship game last season. The series will be in Crosby.
WOS grad Zane Anderson has his Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns in the Region 3 Final of 4AD2. They will play Robinson at Navasota. The Horns are the comeback story of the decade. They started the season 0-11. And they’ve actually won more games in the playoffs (6) than they did in district. Keep it going fellas.
-Gary Stelly, KOGT-
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