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Rogers, the defending Class 2A state champion, isn’t favored in its area-round playoff series against Hallettsville, the 10th-ranked team in the state.
And that’s just fine with coach Craig Coheley and the Eagles.
“We don’t mind being the underdog,” Coheley said. “We’ve been the underdog all year. That won’t affect our confidence. We just have to go play Rogers Eagles baseball.”
Rogers (24-8) and Hallettsville (20-4) will begin their best-of-three series at Nelson Field at 7 p.m. today. Game 2 is at 4 p.m. Saturday, and if necessary Game 3 will start at 7.
The winner will advance to play No. 2 Lexington, the District 26-2A champion, or 28-2A third-place team Weimar.
After overcoming a Game 1 loss to take out high-scoring New Waverly in the bi-district round, Rogers faces another potent offense.
The Brahmas averaged more than eight runs per game en route to a 13-1 district record and the 28-2A title.
“They’ve got a really good-hitting team,” Coheley said. “Their whole lineup is pretty solid. They’re the type of team that you’re going to have to go out and pitch well against to win.”
Pitching and defense have been the cornerstones for a young Eagles squad this season. Rogers’ pitching staff entered the playoffs with a 3.19 earned-run average. Sophomore relief specialist Greg Mendoza leads the Eagles with a 0.89 ERA, having allowed just six earned runs.
After allowing six runs in the opening loss to New Waverly, the Eagles shut out the Bulldogs in the final two games.
Senior Dylan Kuehn pitched a four-hit gem in Game 2, followed by a combined no-hitter in Game 3 by Mendoza and Ryan Fares to wrap up Rogers’ ninth consecutive playoff series victory in the last three seasons.
“Pitching has been our strength all season long,” Coheley said. “Those guys are the ones that make us go. We have to pitch well and get their hitters out.”
Coheley said either Chance Marek or Travis Perkins will start Game 1 and Kuehn will pitch Game 2. A Game 3 starter hasn’t been decided.
They’ll be matched up against top Hallettsville pitchers Jon DeLaRosa and Cameron Besetzeny, who are a combined 11-1.
But as well as Eagle pitchers have fared in the playoffs, Rogers knows it needs to score runs to advance.
The Eagles had trouble with runners in scoring position in Game 1, then pounded out 22 hits and 22 runs in the final two games.
Finding consistency at the plate with runners on is something Coheley has stressed this week.
“We need to have some big innings here and there. We’ve got to seize our opportunity to get some big hits,” Coheley said. “Our hitting is coming around. The guys are understanding what they need to do.”
The Eagles’ bats have come alive in the past four games, with Rogers scoring more than six runs per game.
Designated hitter Stephen Hines was the Eagles’ offensive star against New Waverly, blistering Bulldog pitching in the final two games. He was 4-for-8 in the series with seven runs batted in.
First baseman Cameron Doskocil, the Eagles’ leading hitter and a starter on last year’s 36-2 championship team, was 6-for-10 with an RBI last week.
Going against a more experienced lineup - the Brahams have 17 seniors and juniors - won’t faze the Eagles, Coheley said.
The young Eagles, who have 13 sophomores and freshmen, quickly have put things together in what easily could have been a rebuilding year. Rogers lost nearly every starter from its title team, including 2A Player of the Year and Texas signee Taylor Jungmann, who transferred to Georgetown.
“Our kids have a lot of experience in big games. We played a difficult schedule,” Coheley said. “We’re not in awe of anyone.”
rschneider@temple-telegram.com