Curly
06-04-2008, 09:52 AM
Dominant pitching duo propels Tigers
By Adam Zuvanich | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Story last updated at 6/4/2008 - 3:07 am
Picking a starting pitcher for the most important game of the season can be the most difficult decision a baseball coach has to make.
It's not so tough for Snyder coach Charles Bollinger, who could probably flip a coin and still come out on top.
Lance Day and Brent Bollinger are equally responsible for propelling sixth-ranked Snyder (33-6) to its eighth appearance in the UIL state tournament and first since 1986, and they're why the Tigers feel confident about their chances of winning the program's second state title. The talented senior right-handers have pitched the Tigers to 25 of their school-record 33 wins, including all seven of their playoff victories, while allowing a combined 11 runs in the postseason.
"Our two guys are good, and I feel great going in with the type of pitchers we have," said Charles Bollinger, whose team will face Hutto (27-7) in the Class 3A state semifinals at 3 p.m. today at Disch-Falk Field in Austin. "It's going to be tough for any team to score very many runs off of us. I think if we get one or two runs, we'll win the game."
Charles Bollinger said he plans to start Day against Hutto and save his son for Thursday's championship game - the elder Bollinger hurled a complete game to help Snyder win its only state title in 1983 - but the alternative would probably work just as well. Both throw hard and have good command of all their pitches, and both have big-game experience.
Brent Bollinger is 15-1 this season with a 0.85 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 99 innings, while Day is 10-5 with a 2.03 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 962/3 innings.
"I feel like with either one of them up there, we have an ace every time," said senior second baseman Dustin Murdock, who would be Snyder's third option on the mound. "Everybody on defense feels confident with both of them out there."
Bollinger and Day should feel just as confident in Snyder's offense, which is batting .328 and averaging more than seven runs per game for the season and the postseason. Charles Bollinger said the Tigers are just as adept at playing small ball as they are knocking it around the yard, and the numbers back up that claim.
The Tigers have clubbed 33 home runs and 62 doubles this year, and they're 45-of-53 on stolen-base attempts.
"I think we can beat anybody down there," said Murdock, who leads the team with 11 doubles, 46 RBIs and a school-record 13 homers. "I think we have what it takes to win state."
So does the Tigers' coach, who has tried to share his own state-tournament experiences from 25 years ago in an attempt to prepare his players. Charles Bollinger has told the Tigers to be ready for the pageantry and pressure that accompanies the state tournament, and for the often-sweltering heat on the artificial turf at Disch-Falk Field.
At the same time, he also wants his players to treat this week's games like any other.
"You can't play baseball being all tensed up," Bollinger said. "You've got to relax and realize it's just another game, and go out there and have fun.
"But for us, having fun is winning. That's definitely our goal is to win."
It's safe to say the entire Snyder community will be pulling for the Tigers, and probably the majority of West Texas. Snyder is the only team from the South Plains that made it to Austin this year, and an area team hasn't won a state championship since Andrews in 1999.
"All of West Texas is rooting for us and hoping we can bring home a gold medal," said Bollinger, who has received well-wishes from all over the region. "Everybody's been great and real supportive. We've just got to go out and do what we know how to do and play to the best of our ability, and I think everybody will be proud of us."
By Adam Zuvanich | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Story last updated at 6/4/2008 - 3:07 am
Picking a starting pitcher for the most important game of the season can be the most difficult decision a baseball coach has to make.
It's not so tough for Snyder coach Charles Bollinger, who could probably flip a coin and still come out on top.
Lance Day and Brent Bollinger are equally responsible for propelling sixth-ranked Snyder (33-6) to its eighth appearance in the UIL state tournament and first since 1986, and they're why the Tigers feel confident about their chances of winning the program's second state title. The talented senior right-handers have pitched the Tigers to 25 of their school-record 33 wins, including all seven of their playoff victories, while allowing a combined 11 runs in the postseason.
"Our two guys are good, and I feel great going in with the type of pitchers we have," said Charles Bollinger, whose team will face Hutto (27-7) in the Class 3A state semifinals at 3 p.m. today at Disch-Falk Field in Austin. "It's going to be tough for any team to score very many runs off of us. I think if we get one or two runs, we'll win the game."
Charles Bollinger said he plans to start Day against Hutto and save his son for Thursday's championship game - the elder Bollinger hurled a complete game to help Snyder win its only state title in 1983 - but the alternative would probably work just as well. Both throw hard and have good command of all their pitches, and both have big-game experience.
Brent Bollinger is 15-1 this season with a 0.85 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 99 innings, while Day is 10-5 with a 2.03 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 962/3 innings.
"I feel like with either one of them up there, we have an ace every time," said senior second baseman Dustin Murdock, who would be Snyder's third option on the mound. "Everybody on defense feels confident with both of them out there."
Bollinger and Day should feel just as confident in Snyder's offense, which is batting .328 and averaging more than seven runs per game for the season and the postseason. Charles Bollinger said the Tigers are just as adept at playing small ball as they are knocking it around the yard, and the numbers back up that claim.
The Tigers have clubbed 33 home runs and 62 doubles this year, and they're 45-of-53 on stolen-base attempts.
"I think we can beat anybody down there," said Murdock, who leads the team with 11 doubles, 46 RBIs and a school-record 13 homers. "I think we have what it takes to win state."
So does the Tigers' coach, who has tried to share his own state-tournament experiences from 25 years ago in an attempt to prepare his players. Charles Bollinger has told the Tigers to be ready for the pageantry and pressure that accompanies the state tournament, and for the often-sweltering heat on the artificial turf at Disch-Falk Field.
At the same time, he also wants his players to treat this week's games like any other.
"You can't play baseball being all tensed up," Bollinger said. "You've got to relax and realize it's just another game, and go out there and have fun.
"But for us, having fun is winning. That's definitely our goal is to win."
It's safe to say the entire Snyder community will be pulling for the Tigers, and probably the majority of West Texas. Snyder is the only team from the South Plains that made it to Austin this year, and an area team hasn't won a state championship since Andrews in 1999.
"All of West Texas is rooting for us and hoping we can bring home a gold medal," said Bollinger, who has received well-wishes from all over the region. "Everybody's been great and real supportive. We've just got to go out and do what we know how to do and play to the best of our ability, and I think everybody will be proud of us."