Buna ready for another shot at 2A title
By JIMMY GALVAN Editor

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan BUNA HEAD BASEBALL COACH KEVIN TERRIER is leading the Cougars into the playoffs this year.

Buna baseball coach Kevin Terrier had a feeling his 2008 baseball squad would do something special this year.

After a 12-0 district campaign, the Cougars are heading for the Class 2A playoffs more than ready to make a mark in the state title chase.

With a small graduating class, Terrier returned a youthful squad back and stormed through the district competition en route to another championship.

"I thought we would be pretty good," Terrier said. "How far we go in the playoffs will be up to the team. Our goal was to undefeated in the playoffs but I really didn't expect us to do it."

But Terrier did promise his squad that if they made it through district undefeated that he would give them a day on homerun derby. He knows he still has to pay up that debt to the team.

Terrier said a good pitching staff and solid defense led the Cougars to the playoffs this year.

"We will have to continue to pitch well and offensively we have to pick up our hitting to do anything in the playoffs," Terrier said.

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan A BUNA HITTER TAKES a turn in the batting cage during a recent practice. The Cougars will take on Centerville in the second round of the playoffs in a best of three game series at New Caney High School.

Sophomore pitcher Josh Clark and junior Brandon Hillin are key players for the Cougars in the playoffs. Terrier said he expects both to carry the pitching load for Buna as the second season begins. Clark finished the year 6- 2 with a 1.80 ERA as opponents hit only .197 off of him. Clark recorded 59 strikeouts in 50.67 innings of work.

Hillin finished the year 6- 0 with a 2.07 ERA. Opponents hit .213 off of him as he posted 78 strikeouts and 50.67 innings of work.

Senior Justin Carrell was 2-2 on the mound with a 1.87 ERA.

Kolby Baxter leads the way hitting with a .431 batting average. Baxer hit two homeruns and drove in 17 runs for the season.

Other key offensive stars include catcher Ryan Sheppard, who hit .333 with three homeruns and 16 RBIs; centerfielder Blanton Craft, who hit .390 with seven RBIs; leftfielder Carrell, who hit .380 with 12 RBIs; second baseman Kyle Clark, who hit .333 with 12 RBIs; shortstop Brandon Hillin, who hit .316 with eight RBIs.

"These kids love to play the game," Terrier said. "Our kids may be young but they know how to play. They will be ready for the playoffs."

The Cougars are now perennial playoff contenders in Class 2A and Terrier is thankful for dropping down after years at the Class 3A level.

"It was good to drop down to Class 2A," Terrier said. "We were taking our lumps at 3A but these guys stuck with it and now it's paying dividends for us."

Terrier has been with the Buna baseball program for more than 18 years and has seen this team rise over the past couple of years. As he enters his fourth season as head coach, he sees his squad take some of his characteristics onto the field.

"I'm a hard-nosed guy and they get after it and compete," Terrier said. "I don't like to lose at anything and they pick up on that. I think they emulate that on the field."

Buna had a first round bye in the playoffs will take Centerfield in a three-game series starting Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at New Caney High School. Game 2 will be Saturday, May 19 at 11 a.m. with game 3 to follow if needed.

The winner will face the Mart/Central Heights winner.