Raiders trust experience in postseason

It's time for the Oak Hill Academy Raiders to have a short memory.

The Raiders lost the final three baseball games of the regular season to Kirk Academy, but look to put that behind them as the postseason looms.

Oak Hill will begin the Class 4A playoffs against Indianola Academy at home on Monday. The game starts at 5 p.m. weather permitting.

During the final three Class 4A, District 1 series of the season, the Raiders lost some close games. They had one-run (7-6) and two-run (11-9) losses to Kirk, a tworun (8-6) loss to Marshall Academy and a two-run (8-6) loss Lee Academy.

Oak Hill interim head coach Buddy Dill believes experiencing those close games will only help the team moving forward.

“We fought hard in both of those series,” Dill said of the Kirk and Marshall Academy series. “We just couldn't get it done in the very end, but i think they learned a lot about how to win close games like that, which is what you are going to have to do in the playoffs.”

The Raiders have an even 12-12 record this season and a 9-6 district mark, which was good enough to get them into the playoffs.

There are several players on the Oak Hill roster with postseason experience after last year's run so Dill in confident that will be beneficial.

“You've got a bunch of seniors who have been through it and you've got a group of juniors that have been through it too,” Dill said. “That definitely helps, especially when you come to a close game situations because they've been there before and know how it feels to be in a situation like that.”

After Monday's first game in West Point, the series shifts to Indianola for game two and possibly third game on Thursday.

The two teams have not met on the baseball field this season but have a few common opponents. Dill looks forward to seeing what the Raiders can do.

“I'm expecting them to have a good team coming in here,” Dill said. “We're going to have to play hard and well to advance.”