McKenzie prepping for postseason
Published 2:16 pm Friday, April 12, 2013
McKenzie School head coach Tony Norris knows that come Friday his Tigers will be underdogs when they open the postseason against No. 3 St. Luke’s Episcopal School.
That suits the McKenzie coach just fine.
“We are going to face a very good team in St. Luke’s,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to. I want to see how my guys react.”
The Tigers enter the postseason with a 9-6 mark after falling to J.U. Blacksher High School 11-1 on Monday and then rebounding to defeat Class 5A Wilcox-Central High School 18-8 on Tuesday.
The Wildcats own a 20-7 mark this season.
On paper it would appear the Wildcats are the clear favorites to win the best-of-three series, which will be played in Mobile.
But Norris isn’t concerned with how many wins or losses either team has entering the showdown.
“Everything resets with the playoffs,” Norris said.
The key for McKenzie, according to Norris, will be to play fundamental baseball, something the team will focus on during practice in the days leading up to the postseason.
“We have to make the routine plays and have quality approaches at the plate,” he said.
Norris said having the opportunity to play a team like St. Luke’s is what the Tigers have been working toward.
“I’m excited for our kids to be in the playoffs,” he said. “They have worked very hard to get to this point, and I’m proud of them.”
The best-of-three series will begin at 2 p.m. Friday. Game two is set to start at 4 p.m.
If necessary, game three will be played at 11 a.m. Saturday.