Tigers play on for ailing coach
Back injury keeps Haack at home, but Katy keeps rolling
Katy keeps on rolling even without its coach.
The Tigers softball team is back in the regional finals after a 2-1 series win over Alvin in the Region III-6A semis last week despite playing without veteran skipper Kalum Haack all postseason.
Haack, in his 18th year at Katy, missed the last two district games and first four playoff rounds with a back injury.
“It’s been hard because he’s our fearless leader, and we know that he’s in pain and would do anything to be here,” said assistant Meghan Brown, who is the acting head coach with Haack out of action.
“And we all care about him, so of course we wish he could be here.
“But it’s been motivating because he always preaches, and I quote, ‘Do it like your coach,’ so now we’re all, including us (assistants), having to do it like we’re coach.”
They did it up big last weekend.
After dropping Game 1 2-0, they came alive late in Game 2, winning on Corey Burrough’s walk-off home run, then banged out a 10-7 win in Game 3, which included Kayla Garcia’s grand slam.
It was enough to convince Alvin coach David McCorkle that Haack’s still helping them.
“Katy’s the best at (adjusting offensively),” McCorkle said. “Kalum Haack is one of the best in the business, (and) although he’s not here, those kids still have him in them, and they adjusted, adjusted, adjusted.”
The Tigers (29-9) face Pearland in a best-of-three Region III-6A final.
Game 1 is 7 p.m. Thursday at Tompkins, Game 2 is 6 p.m. Friday at Manvel, and Game 3 follows Game 2, if necessary.
The Yellowjackets, who also won last year’s opener with Katy in the regional semis before falling in three games, led 6-1 going into the sixth inning of Game 2 before giving up six runs the final two frames.
Katy’s comeback was possible because of Chloe Cobb.
With starter Kylie Redding and Alyssa LeBlanc, who took the loss in Game 1, struggling in Game 2, Cobb entered in relief with two outs in the fifth and held Alvin to two hits the rest of the way.
She also started Game 3 and went the first 5 1/3 innings, with Katy up 6-2 through five.
“She just wants to win. She wants it so bad, and she’s a different look than the rest of them,” Brown said. “She knew coming into playoffs that she was going to be a factor because all these teams are so good, with these great hitters, that we can’t keep throwing one pitcher and be successful.”