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Lexington coach Craig Finley said his Eagles have talked about what happened last year in Rogers’ 11-0 and 11-1 wins en route to its first state championship.
But Finley is quick to point out that his team isn’t focusing on that series as the two teams prepare to meet again in the same round at the same site, Nelson Field.
“We’ve talked about it,” Finley said. “Of course, that’s one of the first things the guys said. But we’re not worried about what happened last year. It’s two different ballclubs. We’re focusing on what we’ve got to do this year.”
Rogers (26-8) will open its best-of-three Region IV quarterfinal series against No. 2-ranked Lexington (25-4-1), which won District 26-2A, at 7 p.m. today at Nelson. Game 2 is at 7 p.m. Friday, with Game 3 set for 3 p.m. Saturday if necessary.
The series matches Lexington’s offense, which has 50 home runs, against the pitching and defense of Rogers, which has allowed less than three runs per game in the playoffs.
Rogers has shut down New Waverly and No. 10 Hallettsville, teams that averaged nearly 10 runs.
Senior Dylan Kuehn has been Rogers’ pitching star so far in the playoffs, with a shutout win in each of his team’s two series.
Though neither coach publicly named his pitching order, it’s expected that Kuehn, fellow starters Chance Marek and Travis Perkins and relief specialist Gregory Mendoza all will get innings in the series.
Lexington ace Robert Spitzenberger (8-0) could start tonight, though Finley declined to identify his choice.
Rogers coach Craig Coheley said his pitchers must work to get ahead in the count to avoid giving Lexington batters easy pitches to hit.
“They’re the type of team you’ll have to pitch well against to get out,” Coheley said.
The top of Lexington’s order has done the most damage this season.
Leadoff hitter B.J. Brister leads the team with 15 home runs and cleanup hitter Reagan Janda has 12.
But hitting the ball out at Nelson, with its expansive outfield, is going to be tough.
That’s why Finley continues to stress that his hitters shouldn’t go to the plate trying to homer. Instead, he wants them to focus on finding gaps in the defense.
“That’s what I’ve been preaching all year long,” Finley said. “That’s the gameplan . . . we just want to put the ball in play.”
But Rogers itself has quietly put together a potent offense in the playoffs.
Rogers has averaged more than seven runs per game in five postseason games, including three straight with 10 or more.
Designated hitter Stephen Hines, a .408 hitter, has led the offensive charge with 10 of his 19 runs batted in coming in the playoffs.
Junior first baseman Cameron Doskocil, Rogers’ lone returning starter from last year’s state title team, has a .387 average and has recorded a hit in all but one of the playoff games.
Having played at Nelson for last week’s area-round series sweep of Hallettsville, Rogers players said their familiarity with the park might give them a leg up.
“It gives us an advantage at the plate because we hit a lot of extra-base hits,” said sophomore Perkins, who also plays right field. “And especially our fast players, if it’s in the gap, we’ll probably get a triple out of it.”
The Rogers-Lexington winner will advance to next week’s regional semifinals to play the Riviera Kaufer-Santa Rosa winner.
rschneider@temple-telegram.com