Mixon hesitant on chances of Dawgs' state title chances
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy file photo JASPER'S JOHN BRADLEY and Taylor Hart bask in the glory of last year's Class 3A State Championship.

When the Jasper Bulldogs won their firstever state baseball championship last June, the chatter among fans began: "They'll be back next year to do it again. Yeah, we're looking at a back-to-back championship."

And over the ensuing months, the enthusiasm and outright expectation of another state championship has not dimmed.

The 'Dogs did put on quite a show, beating defending champion Liberty-Eylau of Texarkana 14-4 and setting a new Class 3A record for most hits in a championship game. When the smoke cleared, Jasper had slammed 16 hits, 13 singles, against a Leopard pitching staff that had not allowed more than eight runs in a game all season.

But what kind of chance do they really have of pulling off a consecutive state championship?

"Might," said Jasper Head Coach Shawn Mixon. "Might do it again and might never do it again."

Mixon is quick to point out that it was a rare event- that state championships don't come easily even for exceptional teams.

"People don't realize how rare it is to win the championship," he said. "They don't understand how many things have to fall just right."

Some of the factors that must "fall in place," he said, are health of the team, each player's performance in each playoff game and whom you have to play.

"In baseball, it's rare that everything does fall your way," he said. "It often comes down to which team plays the best at the time."

No one knows that better than Mixon and the 2007 team. The Region III final came down to the last out in the last inning against the Bridge City Cardinals.

The Bulldogs were in a "must win" situation in order to get a shot at the state championship.

In the seventh inning, Cardinal Troy Bolton doubled with a runner on first. John Bradley fielded the ball to Travis Reagan who threw to freshman third baseman Parker Phillips for the tag-out, giving Jasper a 2-1 victory.

It could have gone the other way. And that's the point Mixon makes when asked if the Bulldogs will do it again.

He also points out that District 21-3A is not just the toughest district in the state, the teams are even more formidable than before.

"I think this district is going to be even tougher than last year because teams that weren't that good last year are much better," he said. "There are six teams that have a chance to make the playoffs, six teams that are capable and it will depend on which of those teams plays the best at the time."

The 'Dogs lost some key players, but they return with most of the team intact. That, said Mixon, is also the situation other teams in the district are in.

Jasper beefed up their off-season program this fall and players report that it was the toughest ever.

"Our off-season program wasn't that different, but we added some things that made it harder," Mixon said. "We initiated some different exercises that are hard to see who could get through it. That makes the players physically stronger, but more importantly, it makes them mentally tougher. If they could get through November and December, baseball won't be too hard."

Jasper begins practice Jan. 28, and while Mixon isn't making any predictions about the season, he does acknowledge that this year's team is very strong.

"I wouldn't trade our team for any other team," he said. "We also have good fans and good support. As for another state championship, let's just say that we have a chance. We have a chance to have a chance."