TYLER, Texas-Whoever said not to sweat the little stuff never coached a baseball team.
A dropped ball, a throw to the wrong base, a called third strike-three or four rounds deep into the playoffs, those are the things that determine who plays on and who goes home.
That is something not up for discussion for the Hawks, who face a bulldog of an opponent that has come from behind to win four of five playoff games against Princeton and Krum. The Bobcats had a first-round bye.
"When you're in the final four teams of the region, you're doing something right," Cooper said. "Right now, it's all about competing to win each pitch. We don't look ahead to the next hitter or next inning. We're doing everything we can offensively and defensively to win the moment."
Both coaches expect intense competition.
"I've watched Pleasant Grove at the state baseball tournament in Austin many times," said Celina coach Jake Davis. "It is one of the storied programs in Texas high school baseball. It's an honor to step on the field with them."
Though he returns seven players who earned all-district mention from a regional quarterfinalist, Davis describes his team as a bunch of football players with balls and bats.
"I just have a bunch of kids who work hard and hate losing," he said. "Maybe it's because of their success in football, but they just expect to win. We're just a bunch of guys who grind and scrape. They have a lot of poise."
They should. The Bobcats are a veteran squad, with a state football championship on their resume and 12 seniors, four juniors and no underclassmen on the roster.
Senior pitcher Cooper Harris, a Vernon Junior College signee, is the Bobcats leader. His catcher, Scott Clark, a Tyler junior college signee, is the clean-up hitter. Senior Trace Young rotates at first with juniors Mason Ray and Austin Sanchez, who likely will be the Game 2 pitcher. Senior Bennett Reagan will be the Game 3 starter, if needed.
Junior Trent Earhart plays short and senior Kyle Strickland starts at third. Austin Suges starts left, Cameron Staggs in center and Seth Jackson in right. Shane Gerths is the designated hitter.
The Hawks got complete game efforts last week from Caleb Bolden and Joe Pearlman, and Fincher will likely go with those two again. The Game 3 starter, if needed, is likely to be Will Hlavinka.
Pearlman, at short when not pitching, leads off for the Hawks. He's followed by center fielder A.J. Snyder, first baseman Heath Ferguson, right fielder Carson Cox, catcher Mark Ashby, second baseman Jacob Smith, Bolden, Connor Ouellette at third, and left fielder Vashon Williams.
TEAMS: Pleasant Grove (24-2, No. 5 in coaches' poll) vs. Celina (26-5-1)
LAST WEEK: Pleasant Grove beat Pittsburg 4-1, 7-0. Celina beat Krum, 5-1, 9-5
SITE, TIME: Friday 3 p.m. at Mike Carter Field, Tyler. Game 2 at noon Saturday. Game 3 to follow, if necessary.
AT STAKE: Class II-4A regional semifinal
NEXT ROUND: Winner of Argyle vs. North Lamar in regional final
RADIO: KTRG 94.1 FM, 6:30 p.m., Thursday 4:30 p.m.