WESTBURY CHRISTIAN PUNCHES FIRST EVER TICKET TO STATE TOURNAMENT

COPYRIGHT 2011 – HOUSTON 5A BASEBALL

WEATHERFORD, TX – The Westbury Christian Wildcats traveled to Weatherford, TX on Monday to take on the Midland Christian Mustangs. At stake, a first ever trip to the TAPPS State Tournament for the Wildcats. A season of firsts that started in 2010 with milestones such as the school’s first defeat of Second Baptist, and the school’s first ever play-off advancing win; has kept on rolling well into 2011 as the Wildcats defeated Midland Christian 6-4 and earn their first ever trip to the TAPPS State Tournament in baseball.

The game started with Midland plating an early go ahead run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. From there the contest turned into a pitcher’s dual for the next 2.5 innings as Westbury’s Cody Glenn and Midland’s David Gates traded scoreless inning performances. The Wildcats would plate their first run of the game in the top of the fourth to knot it at 1-1. WCS scored a run in the top of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead into the bottom half where Midland promptly tied it up at 2-2.

The top of the sixth was the turning point for the Wildcats as they exploded, plating four runs to take a 6-4 lead. Glenn would post a 0 in the bottom half of the sixth and would be relieved in the seventh by Michael Bonner who struck out two and closed it out for the Wildcats. Midland plated two in that bottom half but that would be all they would get and WCS claimed the Regional play-off 6-4 to earn their first trip to the State Tournament.

Even with the powerful offense of the Wildcats it still boiled down to pitching. "It all starts on the mound with Cody Glenn. This was the best hitting team we have seen all year and he really had to compete with all of his pitches to keep us in the game". Said Watkins. "There were times where he could have given in to hitters but did a great job of keeping his composure and got it done. This is nothing new to us; it is what makes him special".

Given the team’s struggles from the middle to the latter part of the season tonight’s win is a huge step for the Wildcats. Proving to themselves they have the ability to stand in and defeat high quality opponents in a pressure packed, winner take all situation. The reason, WCS has started to roll of late. "We are peaking at the right time”. Watkins said. We have been very hot the past few weeks and we are just going to keep it rolling".

Westbury’s mound opponent, David Gates is a top shelf talent signed with Texas Tech University. "We knew he was going to be good. We have faced good pitching all season and did a good job of sticking to our approach". "He was in a groove early but luckily we have a very veteran team and we never panicked. Early in the season we would have struggled in that position, but we are a different team now". Watkins said of his Wildcats.

Friday the Wildcats will face a very familiar opponent, the Second Baptist Eagles who are one of three teams from TAPPS 4-4A in the Final Four of the TAPPS State Tournament. Watkins and the Wildcats know very well what can happen if they are not on top of their game vs. the Eagles. But momentum has the Wildcats on a roll and confidence is at a season’s high. "We know our next opponent well, and they know us. Second Baptist is very talented and well coached. We have had no luck against them this year losing our first two. I feel a lot better about Friday’s game". "We are finally coming together and we are excited to be in the state tournament, but no way are we satisfied".

WCS-0-0-0-1-1-4-0---6-7-1

MCS-1-0-0-0-1-0-2---4-7-3

WP-Cody Glenn-10K, LP-David Gates

HR-WCS-Sanford, Glenn, MCS-Burleson

Westbury will meet Second Baptist Friday, May 13 – 10:30 AM @ Waco ISD.