3afan
06-08-2004, 07:16 AM
Forney looks for finishing touch
Last four trips to state baseball tournament ended in defeat
09:27 PM CDT on Monday, June 7, 2004
By RICK KRETZSCHMAR / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Forney's baseball team has been snakebit at the state tournament, where it's about to make its fifth appearance in six years.
Senior catcher Tyler Johnson has been spiderbit, as well.
A spider snagged Johnson on his right biceps last week, causing swelling. Johnson played through the pain, helping Forney sweep the best-of-3 Class 3A Region II final playoff series last week against Texarkana Pleasant Grove.
"The bite is probably one of the most painful things I've endured," said Johnson, who was also bit by a spider in his left ankle last fall. "I can take being hit by a pitch or a collision at home plate."
The next challenge for Johnson and his Forney teammates: changing their fortunes at the state tournament. Anchored by promising Philadelphia Phillies prospect Zack Segovia and current University of Texas standout Curtis Thigpen, Forney advanced to the Class 3A state tournament four straight years from 1999 to 2002. However, a state title eluded Forney each time.
"I don't know if it's bad luck, a curse or something that wasn't meant to be," said Johnson, a member of the 2002 team.
Misfortune returned to Forney in April. Pitcher Brandon Hewett suffered torn ligaments in his right arm and was lost for the rest of the season.
But the team rallied after the injury. Led by the pitching of Chance Corgan (11-1), a Texas A&M signee, and Chace Lankford (9-0), Forney has won 23 straight games, including six in the playoffs.
"When Brandon got hurt, I knew I had to step up and be the No. 2 pitcher," Lankford said. "When it happened, we all sat down and talked about it. We decided we all had to step it up."
Forney could face an obstacle as tough as any in its run of state tournament appearances. If Forney (30-5) wins its semifinal against Perryton (31-7) on Wednesday, it could face La Grange (31-1) in the title game. La Grange features pitcher Homer Bailey, whom the Cincinnati Reds made the No. 7 pick of Monday's draft.
Forney will move up to Class 4A next season. Sixteen of Forney's 17 nondistrict games were against Class 4A or 5A schools, including 10 games against teams that made the playoffs.
"We tried to make this a year of transition and played as many bigger schools as we could," second-year Forney coach James Boxley said. "There is a little more intensity to get it done now because our future district opponents will have more students to choose from. There is a sense of urgency."
E-mail rkretzschmar@dallasnews.com
FORNEY ROSTER
No. Player Pos. Cl.
2 Tyler Johnson C Sr.
3 Kelly Flanery IF Jr.
4 Justin Bryant OF-C Jr.
5 Caleb Hanie OF Sr.
6 Drew Kendrick P-OF Jr.
7 Matt Brooks OF Jr.
8 Preston King P-IF Sr.
9 Coy Davis OF Sr.
10 Jason Beene OF Jr.
11 Chace Lankford P-IF Jr.
12 Andrew Wright IF Jr.
13 Justin Eatherly OF So.
14 Cameron Graupman IF So.
15 Jacob Kinard IF So.
16 Brandon Hewett P-IF Sr.
18 Justin Krause IF So.
19 Dusty Williams OF-C Jr.
20 Justin Parker P-OF Jr.
21 Jordan Elder IF Fr.
22 Kyle Rouvaldt OF Jr.
23 Chance Corgan P-IF Sr.
24 Craig Rasbury OF Sr.
25 Spencer Reese P-IF Jr.
Coach _ James Boxley
Assistant coaches _ J.R. Proctor, Billy Dan Chambliess, Jeff Pruitt
Class 3A state baseball semifinals: Forney (30-5) vs. Perryton (31-7), 5 p.m. Wednesday, Disch-Falk Field, Austin
Last four trips to state baseball tournament ended in defeat
09:27 PM CDT on Monday, June 7, 2004
By RICK KRETZSCHMAR / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Forney's baseball team has been snakebit at the state tournament, where it's about to make its fifth appearance in six years.
Senior catcher Tyler Johnson has been spiderbit, as well.
A spider snagged Johnson on his right biceps last week, causing swelling. Johnson played through the pain, helping Forney sweep the best-of-3 Class 3A Region II final playoff series last week against Texarkana Pleasant Grove.
"The bite is probably one of the most painful things I've endured," said Johnson, who was also bit by a spider in his left ankle last fall. "I can take being hit by a pitch or a collision at home plate."
The next challenge for Johnson and his Forney teammates: changing their fortunes at the state tournament. Anchored by promising Philadelphia Phillies prospect Zack Segovia and current University of Texas standout Curtis Thigpen, Forney advanced to the Class 3A state tournament four straight years from 1999 to 2002. However, a state title eluded Forney each time.
"I don't know if it's bad luck, a curse or something that wasn't meant to be," said Johnson, a member of the 2002 team.
Misfortune returned to Forney in April. Pitcher Brandon Hewett suffered torn ligaments in his right arm and was lost for the rest of the season.
But the team rallied after the injury. Led by the pitching of Chance Corgan (11-1), a Texas A&M signee, and Chace Lankford (9-0), Forney has won 23 straight games, including six in the playoffs.
"When Brandon got hurt, I knew I had to step up and be the No. 2 pitcher," Lankford said. "When it happened, we all sat down and talked about it. We decided we all had to step it up."
Forney could face an obstacle as tough as any in its run of state tournament appearances. If Forney (30-5) wins its semifinal against Perryton (31-7) on Wednesday, it could face La Grange (31-1) in the title game. La Grange features pitcher Homer Bailey, whom the Cincinnati Reds made the No. 7 pick of Monday's draft.
Forney will move up to Class 4A next season. Sixteen of Forney's 17 nondistrict games were against Class 4A or 5A schools, including 10 games against teams that made the playoffs.
"We tried to make this a year of transition and played as many bigger schools as we could," second-year Forney coach James Boxley said. "There is a little more intensity to get it done now because our future district opponents will have more students to choose from. There is a sense of urgency."
E-mail rkretzschmar@dallasnews.com
FORNEY ROSTER
No. Player Pos. Cl.
2 Tyler Johnson C Sr.
3 Kelly Flanery IF Jr.
4 Justin Bryant OF-C Jr.
5 Caleb Hanie OF Sr.
6 Drew Kendrick P-OF Jr.
7 Matt Brooks OF Jr.
8 Preston King P-IF Sr.
9 Coy Davis OF Sr.
10 Jason Beene OF Jr.
11 Chace Lankford P-IF Jr.
12 Andrew Wright IF Jr.
13 Justin Eatherly OF So.
14 Cameron Graupman IF So.
15 Jacob Kinard IF So.
16 Brandon Hewett P-IF Sr.
18 Justin Krause IF So.
19 Dusty Williams OF-C Jr.
20 Justin Parker P-OF Jr.
21 Jordan Elder IF Fr.
22 Kyle Rouvaldt OF Jr.
23 Chance Corgan P-IF Sr.
24 Craig Rasbury OF Sr.
25 Spencer Reese P-IF Jr.
Coach _ James Boxley
Assistant coaches _ J.R. Proctor, Billy Dan Chambliess, Jeff Pruitt
Class 3A state baseball semifinals: Forney (30-5) vs. Perryton (31-7), 5 p.m. Wednesday, Disch-Falk Field, Austin