By Cody Pastorella
The Port Arthur News
May 27, 2009 08:44 pm
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The Nederland Bulldogs figure to have their work cut out for them with this weekend's best-of-three Class 4A Region III semifinals series against the Friendswood Mustangs.
But Nederland baseball coach Cody Robbins says, "if you're going to be the best, you have to beat the best."
Friendswood (25-7) may very well be the best in regards to this series matchup, which starts at 7:30 tonight at the University of Houston.
The Mustangs have plenty of talent and playoff experience.
Friendswood even has playoff history with Cougar Field, as UofH hosted the same round of the Region III playoffs a year ago between Friendswood and Lamar Consolidated.
Friendswood won that series in three games and eventually went on to the final four in Austin. A big part of the Mustangs 2008 success came from the hands of their first baseman Alex Anastas, who hit a two-run homer in the decisive game against Lamar Consolidated.
Now a senior and soon to be Houston Cougar, Anastas appears to be even more dangerous this season, leading his team with nine homers and 43 RBIs. In the postseason, he has one round tripper, has driven in five runs and has a .357 average.
His .383 season average, which is .100 points better than last year's, also helped the Mustangs claim the District 24-4A title.
But Anastas is just the anchor of a team with an all-around tough lineup. The Mustangs roasted Texas City for an 18-5 decision in the third and decisive game in the previous round. In total, they outscored Texas City 28-9.
Friendswood has good pitching, as ace Kyle Burris has just one loss on the season. That one came in a 2-1 decision in Game 2 against Texas City.
With all that talent and experience, it appears that Nederland might be going into this series as the underdogs.
But Robbins is fine with that too.
"We know they're good. I haven't seen them personally but we've had scouts at their last few games," Robbins explained. "They wouldn't be here if they weren't good. We know we will see good pitching, good defense and good hitting. That's what you expect at this point in the season."
Robbins added that he does not think a lack of playoff experience is going to hurt his Bulldogs, who have not been in the postseason since 2006.
The fifth year coach quickly pointed out that experience was not a factor during their run to the District 20-4A title. Nederland dropped to 1-1 after a loss to Port Neches-Groves on March 20th. A lesser team would have sunk their heads, but not these Bulldogs.
In their very next game, the Dogs bounced back from that nine-inning 2-0 loss by knocking off Little Cypress-Mauriceville in Mauriceville to improve to 2-1.
That win was the start of a current 17-game winning streak which has Nederland at 22-7 overall this season.
Robbins also pointed out that his Dogs have had little issue with experience in the first three rounds of the playoffs.
There is no arguing that, either. Nederland has outscored its first three opponents 43-7, grabbing a 5-0 postseason mark.
Experience? Nederland's chances? That is all irrelevant to Robbins.
"We just have to keep doing the things we've been doing — the things that got us this far," he said. "We need to continue taking care of all the little things — continue pitching well, playing good defense and being confident at the plate. We know this is going to be a challenge. We know we're going to have to be our best. But this is still baseball.
"I think we're pretty good and the kids have handled themselves pretty well so far."
Along with the above mentioned run differential they have acquired, the Bulldogs have increased their team average from .328 to .371 since ending the regular season.
Jordan Pitts, Kirby Bellow, Jude Vidrine and Nick Cardenas are all batting over .500 in the playoffs. Bellow has a .588 average with six RBIs. Vidrine is hitting .543, has dropped two bombs and has driven in nine runs. Cardenas has a .546 average with 10 RBIs, and Pitts follows with an even .500.
Cody Laird is nipping at their heels with five RBIs and a .471 average.
Nederland's pitching has been just as good. In three starts, Bellow (9-0) has allowed just two runs and dealt a complete game shutout in the series clincher against Magnolia on Saturday. In his second start, Bellow held Montgomery (at Cougar Field) to a single run which came in the first inning. He has not allowed one since (13 innings).
In two starts, Josh Dean (8-0) has also surrendered just two runs. He was the Game 1 winner against Magnolia last Thursday.
Robbins has yet to name his Game 1 starter for this series, but he was happy to say Bellow and Dean would each be getting a start at some point this weekend.
Game 2 will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. and if necessary, Game 3 will be at 2 p.m. Saturday. Each game will be at Cougar Field.
The winner of this series will move on to meet either Waltrip or Brenham in the regional finals.
Directions to Cougar Field: I-10 to Houston
Take Exit 768 B for I-45 South — 4.2 miles
Take Exit 44 B for HWY 5 — 1.1 miles
Turn right at University Entrance
Turn left at Calhoun Road.
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