Stakes no big deal for calm and collected Panthers
Ridge Point one step from state tournament at regional final
For some coaches and teams getting within one round of the state tournament would lead to lots of nerves and anxiety.
If James McClanahan has anything to do with it, however, Ridge Point’s players will be calm as can be this week. McClanahan has coached in six regional finals, including one with his current school.
McClanahan is a veteran of the big moment. He went 3-1 in four regional finals at Elkins. In 2013 his Ridge Point team lost to Foster in the same stage. This week, the Lady Panthers will take on Santa Fe with a chance to punch their ticket to the state tournament for the first time.
“(The chance to win a regional title) is always in the back of your mind, but the players still have to execute the plays and do the things that got them there,” McClanahan said. “The game is not different, but the result is a little bigger.”
Ridge Point and Santa Fe will play a best-of-three series to decide the Class 5A, Region III champion. The first game is Thursday at 7 p.m. And the second game Friday at 7 p.m. If a third game is necessary it will be played at 6 p.m. Saturday. All three games will be played at the University of Houston.
This week’s opponent is a familiar one. Ridge Point lost to Santa Fe (8-3 and 5-1)
twice during district play. The Lady Indians are led by pitcher Shelbi Sunseri. While it may be significant to some that Santa Fe swept Ridge Point this season, McClanahan said it also is important to note that Ridge Point had Santa Fe’s number before this season.
Ridge Point had eight games rained out before district play began, which hindered the development of some of the young players.
“(Santa Fe) is playing very well and has been all year,” McClanahan said. “We think we’re playing a little bit better than we did earlier in the year. Losing a lot of those games early hurt us because it was more games we could have been playing with our new pieces.”
Both teams have played close games during the playoffs. Ridge Point’s most recent game was its most dramatic. The Lady Panthers scored eight runs in the sixth inning to rally from a five-run deficit and defeat Willis, 9-6, to clinch the regional semifinal series in two games.
“Any time you can pull off something like that it’s big for the kids,” McClanahan said. “I hope it will carry over, but it’s a week later, against a whole new team. But now they know they can bounce back from adversity. They’ve been there and done that.”
One thing this year’s players have not done is win a regional title. For the second time in three years Ridge Point has an opportunity to do that. With a coach who knows how to prepare a team at this stage in the playoffs the Lady Panthers may be looking at their first trip to state.
(Being in the regional final) is a first for a lot of them,” McClanahan said. “We have a few kids who were there two years ago. More experience would help, but they have played in front of pretty good crowds and against good teams. They just have to keep doing what got them there.”