Any one like to honor their teammates?

Then get to work ...

See you on the field @ Cooper vs. the Houston Power on 6/7.

The Centex Miracle: Character Rewarded

Have you ever needed to see something, but you didn't know it until you saw it? And then the joy of the experience just enveloped you? I have.

Let me tell you about the "Centex Miracle".

First we'll talk about the game, and then I'll tell you about what the Mustangs and I talked about before this game started to get the full picture.

In the first round of Gold Division play, we faced the Central Texas Chargers. We were in the Gold Division as a result of our disappointing loss to HCYA, 12-2. We did not play well, and the Eagles whipped us. We knew we could win, but we didn't. The disappointment hung in the air.

We took the field against a team that was pretty good. The Chargers had narrowly lost to the Raleigh Warriors, 4-2, in their qualification game. Their lineup contained three regular players from the West Houston Thunder (added to enable to the Chargers to compete in Florida). These were good players, and they also provided valuable scouting intel to Centex. So, we had our work cut out for us, probably more than our players realized.

We started off the game strong, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Then, the wheels began to fall off in a difficult second inning. After a combination of strange plays and mistakes, the Chargers capitalized, going ahead, 4-2. A great catch in left by Gomer kept the damage from being much worse.

The stands were pretty quiet during the middle of the game. I heard my wife cheering consistently, but I could tell our fans were down. I understood. I was disappointed, too. A day that had started with so much promise and excitement was going inexplicably badly. Our players looked lifeless. The Chargers' pitcher continued to pitch well and keep the ball down. Having established the strike zone, he got calls, too. Our fate looked bleak.

It got worse as the Chargers tacked on several more runs late. Reagan came in and stopped the bleeding in the top of the 6th. The inning ended on a double-play, with a Charger being called out for interference. We needed all the help we could get. We were down, 8-2.

We came to bat in the bottom of the 6th. I don't remember what I said in the huddle, but I was pretty much at a loss for words at this point. I went out to third base and looked at my phone for the time. We had about 14 minutes left in the 2:10 time limit.

Our first two batters went quickly, so I thought I would not have to deal with the difficult decision of asking a player to take a quick out/strikeout to run the clock out and start over in the 7th.

But then, funny things started to happen.

Krush came up and hit a grounder to SS. It looked like he was going to be out, but the SS bobbled the ball. Krush was hustling to first and he beat the throw. We were under 10 minutes, but I was still a ways off from having to decide which way to go. Then, Foxy had a great AB and walked.

Centex started to stall. I was, let's say, mildly upset. They made a couple of trips to the mound, etc., etc. Passed ball and runners were now on second and third.

Ian came to the plate, and I looked at my phone. He had missed the first half of the tournament with an academic commitment and was about to get his first World Series AB. We still had time to take an out and get to the next inning. But we had runners on second and third.

Then ... practically fresh off the plane to Florida, Ian lined a single into right-center and it was 8-4. Then, the 9 hole was due up. It was Crumbles. I thought it would probably be wrong to ask him to take three cuts to get to the next inning. Uncertainty and I were well-acquainted at this point.

Then, we had another mound visit, throws to first, etc., etc. I got more agitated. Some one forgot to tell Crumbles to be nervous or whatever, because he then shot a single into right, and we had runners at 1st and 3rd.

The time went under 5 minutes as the top of the lineup rolled back around.

I didn't know what to do but keep us going. I have learned that when it's fuzzy to stand pat. Usually, this is the right way to go. But the truth is that I wasn't sure what to do. But the team seemed to know.

The Mustangs wanted to finish this rally.

We were at about 2-3 minutes left with Reagan at the plate when it happened. I looked up and Crumbles was trying to steal second. Then, a million crazy thoughts went through my head. Was he or Coach Fox trying to get thrown out and get us to the 7th? But wait ... that would have been my call. Turns out we had a miscommunication and, let's just say, I was scratching where Crumbles was itching. He thought he had a steal sign. So he ran for his life ... and made it.

Now we had runners on 2nd and 3rd. Reagan had a great AB, and drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch.

Ben was on deck. The Chargers changed pitchers. At some point during all of this, the time expired. So, this was going to be it after all. I guess the right call was to press ahead with the inning, after all, or at least, we would find out.

As Sauce, Ben and I watched the new pitcher warming up, we looked on the next field over. HCYA, who had dealt us our disappointing loss earlier that day, had just defeated Raleigh to advance in the Platinum Bracket. "Wow, HCYA won," I said. Sauce looked at me and said, "We are about to win, too." Ben smiled.

Indeed, Ben went to the plate and absolutely crushed the first pitch thrown to him. It was a liner down the left-line, and it rattled around in the corner some 325 feet away. With Reagan on 1st, I knew we had three runs. Ben ended up on 2nd with a bases-clearing double, and the score was 8-7. The fans were making some serious noise, I do recall.

Sauce then came up and then drew his second intentional walk of the tournament. The Chargers elected to pitch to Matt. But Matt was up to the challenge. He was exceptionally patient in taking off-speed pitches off the plate and drew a walk on 3-1. Gomer went in to run for Matt at first.

With Matt's walk, the tying run was on third and the winning run was on second.

Then Zig came to the plate, and I remember thinking ... "Even if we don't do it here, it's been a great rally. I am really proud of them for continuing to battle. But wow, wouldn't it be something if ... " I almost dared not think it.

Zig was looking for his first hit on the night. The first two pitches were off-speed and apparently off the outside corner, but they were called strikes. The next pitch was in the dirt, and Zig laid off ... the fans were amped.

I saw the Centex catcher calling for the ball up, apparently to change Zig's eye level after three low pitches. The pitch did come in up, and in, but not very ... Zig hit a chopper toward the middle with incredible topspin. Each time the ball hit the ground it increased in speed and bounced seemingly higher. The shortstop got close but didn't have a chance to stop it. Once the ball bounced into center, it was clear Sauce would score from second.

And he did ... Mustangs 9, Chargers 8. Ball game.

As Michael slid home, a wild celebration ensued. I made merry myself, moreso than any time before. The wild, emotional ride of the day made it fun, but what had happened before the game is what really got to me.

You see, I've been doing this a while. I've seen lots of Mustangs teams with great players and young men who I wanted to see rewarded for their efforts on the field with a great result. But life doesn't always work out that way.

This night it did.

Before the game, we sat by the gate to the field and talked. Actually, I talked. I talked turkey about how I was disappointed at how we had played against HCYA, but it wasn't the end of the world, either. Adversity is not so important, but how we respond to it reveals our character. It bothered me to see players moping around in the dugout about subpar performances rather than picking themselves up and getting after it. I wanted individual concerns to fade away and see us pull together like never before.

Nothing that happened on the field on Saturday was life-or-death. We needed a perspective check. I challenged them to see what they were made of. I told them that I was going to be watching to see who was sticking with it until the end of the next game. I reminded them of the definition of success, which is doing your best with what you have.

Specifically, I told our team, "I know you are disappointed about the last game. I am, too. But we have to move on. I don't care about the result of this game. I really don't. But what I do care about is how you play, and that you keep after it until they tell us this game is over. How you respond and play this next game will tell you a lot about where you are as a man right now."

So, as exciting as the game was, what happened before the game and how the Mustangs responded to adversity and their disappointment with heart and character -- and finished -- is really why I was so pumped afterwards.

It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it, even now. That one is locked into the ol' memory bank, and I will treasure it always.

I am just honored to be their coach.

See you on the field.

Florida Pictorial Recap

Here are some pictures from the last half of our trip to the World Series in Florida.



On Wednesday, some of us went down to Madeira Beach near St. Pete. Texas is out there somewhere.

All-Tournament Mustangs ... Sauce, Reagan, and Ben ... stop for a pic with me on a beautiful Florida afternoon.

The Dallas Angels and the Atlanta Barons played one of the all-time great World Series' games in the Platinum Championship, with the Barons winning, 7-6, in 9 innings.

Mustangs and our fans hung around to pull for our Texas brethren.

On our drive home, Reagan was kind enough to photo his bad toe that he played with during the week.

We took a detour and headed up the west coast of Florida through Crystal River on the way back.

We got on U.S. 98 and went up the Florida coast for miles and miles ...

... and miles and miles ...



We saw some Falcons fans flying back ...

Here we are crossing the bay into Apalachicola.

Coming over the bridge into Apalachicola, we immediately saw signs of life.



We drove down the main drag of beautiful Apalachicola, Florida, the Oyster Capitol of the U.S..



We ate at the Apalachicola Seafood Grill on the square ... THE best fried oysters ever. I hope to be back next year, probably on the way there. Meet me here and maybe I will buy you dinner.



I headed north over Choctawhatchee Bay east of Destin. I was cruisin' and Reagan was snoozin'. See you next year, Florida.

Foxy and Ian do their first gig in FLA ... stick around for the "sick" solo

World Series Recap

Greetings All,

Well, I am back and the sunburn is still fresh. So are the memories of a great week of Mustang baseball.

Here is the recap:

Game one (Pool play) -- In the first game of pool play, the Mustangs defeated/run-ruled the Montgomery, AL Saints, 12-0. The Saints defeated the Mustangs last season in Dallas and advanced to the HWS in Pensacola. This year was quite a different story. It was as impressive a game as we played all season. Bats were electric, as was Zig's arm, and Foxy behind the plate. Zig struck out 11 and went the distance.

Game two (Pool play) -- The Mustangs rallied to defeat the SW Dallas Spartans, 6-5, to win their pool. The game was the morning after the emotional and thrilling start vs. Montgomery. The Spartans scored three to take a 3-0 lead in the first, and Mustangs were left scratching and clawing all day to get back. The Mustangs finally drew even at 5-5 in the bottom of the 6th. In the 7th, Sauce knocked in Foxy as the Mustangs won in walk-off fashion.

Game three (Qualifying game) -- In the qualifying round, the 5th seeded Mustangs faced the 12-seed HCYA Eagles and their ace, Brodie Brown. It was a difficult day for the Mustangs in all phases. For the Eagles, Brodie was outstanding all day and pitched 6-2/3. The Eagles pitched and hit the ball extremely well and made some key defensive plays on their way to the 12-2 victory. The Eagles played extremely well at the HWS and went on to a 4th-place finish in the Platinum Division.

Game four (First Round of Gold Division play) -- On the night after the difficult loss to HCYA, the Mustangs rallied to defeat the Centex Chargers, 9-8, in the last inning. To be more specific, the Mustangs scored 7 runs after two outs in the last (6th) inning to defeat the Chargers in what is now known as the "Centex Miracle". I'll have a separate post coming up on this game, which was a real highlight of our trip and the entire tournament.

Game five (Semifinals of Gold Division play) -- The Mustangs again trailed as their game vs. the Baton Rouge (CHEF), La. Patriots headed into the late stages. The Patriots led the Mustangs, 1-0, as the Mustangs came to bat in the top of the 5th. Truett gave a second strong pitching performance of the week to keep the Mustangs close and set up the rally. And then, the Mustangs then broke the pinata with their bats and scored 17 runs in the top of the 5th to win, 17-1, and advance to the Gold Division Championship.

Game six (Gold Division Championship) -- The Mustangs faced a traditional HWSA power, the Huntsville, AL Falcons, in the championship game. The Falcons had advanced to Pensacola 7 of the previous 10 years under the prior format and had a fine team and pitching staff in Auburndale this year. It was a well-played and great game, with the Falcons prevailing, 5-2 . The Falcons made the game's only error, and the hits were about even. However, the Falcons ace pitched a complete game gem. Once again, the Mustangs mounted a late rally, scoring once in the 6th and having the tying run on deck in the 7th.

Final standings -- The Mustangs went 4-2 in Florida and finished second in the Gold Division, or 10th nationally. They did this without any seniors, as well (of the 23 participating teams in Auburndale, only Baton Rouge had no seniors.) The Mustangs trailed in three of the games they ultimately won. In fact, the Mustangs trailed in the 5th inning or later in all three of their comeback wins.

The Mustang Nation was loud and out in force. Thank you, fans.

Once again, the Mustangs showed tremendous heart and played some of their best baseball in HWSA competition, setting the stage for an exciting 2011.

I am working on it already.

Most significantly, we received some special feedback about our team and program that I look forward to sharing with you all at our party on May 24. We will celebrate this great season right.

I will have some pictures from Florida coming soon, so check back.

Two Outs ... 6 Runs Down in the Last Inning ... No Problem

Florida Recap Coming ...

For those of you super-dedicated Mustang fans and friends, I will have some more complete thoughts on our recently-completed trip to the HWSA World Series soon ... maybe in the morning.

We lost to the Covenant Christian Academy (Huntsville, AL) Falcons today, 5-2. It was a good game against a great program that had been to the HWSA in Pensacola under the old format in 7 out of 10 years. The Falcons' pitcher threw a complete-game gem at us. So, we finished second in the Gold Division, which equates to a 10th place finish nationally.

Our players are disappointed they didn't pull it out today, but they leave here with the satisfaction of taking this program to a place it has never gone before. We now have earned respect on a national scale. I will report back later with more.

We saw and experienced some remarkable things this week. Truly remarkable.

God is good.

Talk to you soon.

MtB Always ...