There shouldn't be many surprises in the Region III-2A championship series between Linden-Kildare and James Bowie.
The Tigers (18-8) and Pirates (18-4) finished 1-2 in District 17-2A play and split two league meetings. The teams meet again for the regional title and state tournament berth at Texas High's Tiger Field.
Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. today, and the second game will be at 5 p.m. on Friday. If the series is split, Game 3 will be held following a 30-minute break after Game 2.
The Pirates were 2-3 in district play but since have won 14 in a row.
"There was a point early when we weren't playing very well," James Bowie coach Eddy May said. "The second half of district rolled around, we made some good adjustments, got a little better and hit our stride. We built some confidence, are making plays on defense, getting some timely hits when we need them, and pitching very well. If you're going to play well, this is the time of year you want to have it going.
"We've been fortunate enough to be playing our best in the playoffs, and we hope to keep it going this week."
May, the head football coach and athletic director, has been back at James Bowie for two years. At the end of the 2018 school year, the Pirate baseball coach left, and May's hunt for a new coach didn't bring the experience he believed the program needed at that time.
May hired Sean Baskin to take over the James Bowie baseball team for the 2019-20 school year as head coach, and Baskin has served as May's assistant coach for the baseball team this season.
"He was straight out of college, and I thought I would have him help me this year and see how it went," May said about Coach Baskin. "It's gone well, so he will take it over next year."
John Roberts has been with the Linden-Kildare baseball team for seven years, the last five as head coach. This is the deepest run in the postseason for the Tigers in more than 15 years.
L-K has lost the first game in each of its last two series before grabbing the momentum and winning games 2 and 3.
"We're going to need to pitch well and play solid defense to be successful," Roberts said. "We need to put some crooked numbers on the board, especially in Game 1, to try to turn the tide and get an opening win."
Trent Wert, Jacob Owen and Mason Johnson have started for the Tigers, and Caleb Cunningham has been a reliever. Deuce Schuler catches, Nic Kunze will be at first base and Chase Bynum at second. Johnson plays third, Dalton Alford plays shortstop when Owen is on the mound, and the outfield features Cunningham in left, Wert in center and Colt Neville in right.
Linden-Kildare beat the Pirates, 13-3 by the run-rule, at James Bowie, and in the second half JB edged the Tigers 5-4.
"I wouldn't say it (the second meeting in district) was a must-win for us, but we really needed to win games to be able to get back in the district race," May said. "That win gave us a lift, and we've played better from that point on. This is a matchup where we know each other, we know who their good hitters are, what they're going to throw at us and they know the same things. It's going to be a fun series.
"We're not focusing on them and what they're going to do; we're looking at us and playing our best baseball."
Evan Barron and Whitt Rogers have been the two starting pitchers in the postseason for James Bowie. Garrett Brown starts at catcher, Brandon Obenoskey or Rogers will be at first, Cason Braley plays second and Zane DeBerry third. Barron plays shortstop when Rogers pitches, Tyler Crabtree is in left, Dalton McBride in center and Evan Williams in right.
"With us playing each other twice, we understand what each other's strengths and weaknesses are, which is good and bad," Roberts said. "It's going to come down to who comes out and plays better this weekend. We've been in the playoffs the last five years, but this is the furthest we've been since I have been here."
The winner between the Tigers and Pirates advances to the Class 2A state tournament in Round Rock, Texas, next week. The 2A semifinals are scheduled for 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, with the state final at noon Thursday, June 6 at Dell Diamond.