A year ago, Weatherford Kangaroos head coach Terry Massey and his players were eliminated from postseason contention with a regular season finale loss to the Granbury Pirates at Raymond E. Curtis Field.
This season, the Roos not only made their way into the playoffs, they went two rounds deep, knocking out the Odessa Bronchos in the bi-district round, before being eliminated by the Amarillo Sandies in Midland a week ago.
“The kids really did well and the difference between last year’s team and this year, I believe, is our pitching and defense was better,” Massey said. “Last year, when I came in, we didn’t have any varsity experience on the mound and this year, we did. I think that made a huge difference as well as our defensive play.
“Plus, my style, I bunt a little bit and I think you saw that come into play this year. We were really able to execute the bunt better than what we were able to do last year.”
Massey, in only his second season at the helm of the Weatherford baseball program, kept the Roos near the top of the district standings throughout the season ultimately finishing third with a District 4-5A record of 11-5. Only Paschal and Mansfield Summit finished better than the Roos in district and each had a district record of 12-4.
Weatherford benefited from strong pitching from Taylor Massey and Colton Rhodes which are just two of nine voids that will have to be filled in the offseason due to graduation.
“We’ve got a couple of kids coming back that I think can help us on the mound,” Coach Massey said. “If Josh Easley can develop a second pitch, really develop it to where it’s a good pitch, he’s going to be one of the best in the area next year, if he does that.
“Then, I’ve got a couple of other kids. If Jordan Ellington comes on and picks it up. We’ll just have to wait and see who steps it up because we are losing a bunch of seniors this year.”
The loss of starting seniors like Massey, Rhodes, Colton Davis, Kevin Manning and Colton Matlock is a tough blow for the Roos, but Coach Massey said he believes he has some guys who can take over the positions.
“I think so, but you know until the lights are on, you just never know how they’re going to react,” Coach Massey said. “JV ball is a lot different than varsity baseball. We’re going to have a lot of competition next year for jobs really at almost every position.
“We’re going to have to have some people step up on the mound. We had 22 wins this year and half of them are gone with Taylor and then you have another three or four wins with Colton Rhodes on the mound. You’re really going to lose basically 85 percent of your wins on the mound.
“Like I said, Easley and some other people are going to have to pick it up.”
Coaches are not often surprised by the accomplishments of their team or their players because they have such high expectations for them, but Coach Massey admitted there were a few players during the 2008 season who really impressed him.
“Kevin Manning was a big surprise,” he said. “He actually made one error all season long at first base and he made it in the Amarillo series. That was his one and only error the whole year and he saved a bunch of other errors for us this year with picking the ball over at first. That was a huge surprise.
“Colton Matlock really stepped up his play. Taylor picked it up. Taylor, I knew would hit, but I didn’t think he’d win 11 ballgames on the mound.
“Kevin Manning would be one of the bigger ones because like I said, he really did a tremendous job over there at first base.”
Coach Massey said there are many things the returning players can learn from the departing Roos, but the main one he hopes they carry on into the 2009 season is the attitude.
“Hopefully, they’ll take the attitude of these seniors because these seniors really were some great competitors,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll take that into this offseason and into the summer and get in the weight room and those things and really push themselves to try to do better than this group.”
Weatherford finished the season with a record of 22-12 overall.
Sports
Roos looking to fill vacancies
- Sports
-
-
Eagles rebound, advance to regional finals
Brock had a score to settle with the Troy Trojans after the opening game of their Class 2A, Region II semifinal series on Wednesday.
-
Roos get taste of “real” football in annual spring scrimmage
Weatherford football coaches, along with a healthy contingent of Roo football fans, got an early look at next season's players on Thursday at Kangaroo Stadium. The finale to spring drills spawned the 2012 version of the annual Blue-White game, with the Blue taking the controlled scrimmage, 14-3.
-
OK, let’s give it a rest — Column
Ever since the Texas Ranger’s last home stand, not the one they are in the middle of right now _ the local radio heads have kept the controversy alive concerning the decision by Coach Wash to rest some of his starting lineup (i.e., stars) during the short series with Oakland.
-
Knight inks with Jacksonville's new tennis program
Fresh off a Class 2A boys doubles state championship, Millsap senior Gabe Knight put finishing touches on a stellar prep tennis career recently, signing a letter-of-intent to attend and play tennis at Jacksonville College.
-
Eagles look to even series on Friday
The Brock Eagles drew first blood on Wednesday, and then drew a little more before their Class 2A regional semifinal opponents found their bats in a big way.
-
McDonald heads to national competition
Tyler McDonald competed in the Cadet division in the 145-pound class last weekend at the Texas USA Wrestling State Tournament in Lewisville, and finished as the state runner-up.
-
WHS play out intra-squad match
The annual Roos Blue-White scrimmage heralded the conclusion of spring drills as Weatherford coaches got a preview of the players who will suit up in the fall.
- Riggins tags sponsor
-
Making History
Heather Henson and Bailey Duvall became the first girls in the history of the Poolville High School tennis program, recently, to ever qualify and compete at the state championship tournament.
-
Sports briefs - May 22, 2012
Brock schedule finalized for regional semifinal series
Staff Report
After eliminating Melissa on Friday night with a 4-2 win, the Brock Eagles baseball team had to wait until Saturday's rubber match between Teague and Troy to see who its opponent would be.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
