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Brahmarettes stampede to state tourney
"I think that if you keep things simple and allow the kids to enjoy it, I don't think you get overwhelmed by all the hype,"said East Bernard softball coach Amy Bush before Tuesday's afternoon practice at Koym Field. East Bernard leaves for Austin today to prepare for Thursday's game. "We want to absorb it all and get star struck for a second and get ready to play." The Brahmarettes draw Region III champion Harmony High School, from Big Sandy, in a semifinal game at 4:30 p.m. contest. Coahoma, the Region I champ, plays Region II champion S&S Consolidated (Sadler) at 2 p.m. The championship game is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, following the Class A title game. Senior third baseman Samantha Wasek is excited about the opportunity to play at this level. "At the beginning of the season I never would have thought that we would be going to Austin. "I feel that I can't relax and enjoy it until we win it all." EB earned the right to compete at state by sweeping No. 1 ranked Poth by 2-0 scores Friday and Saturday in Victoria. Harmony took two out of three games from Wooden, winning the first 3-1, losing the second 1-0 and winning the third 4-1. Bush agreed that there's some pressure playing on the state level. "If you don't allow yourself to have any pressure at all, what's the fun in winning. "Of course the kids want to win and they have worked their butts off. "I think the pressure is on everybody else because these teams are seasoned and have been there and done that. Coahoma will be making its fourth straight trip to the state tournament. Last year's Brahmarettes team lost to eventual state champion Troy in a regional quarterfinal series in Smithville. "I thought so much about that in the last couple of days," said Bush. "We hit a good team against Troy who was so well-seasoned." "These kids weren't used to winning like that up until last year. "It's just a change of venue. We're going to walk out there and take a deep breath and absorb for a second. Then we are going out there and understand that it's a simple thing that we' re down here." The Lady Eagles are led by pitchers Amber Wilburn and Samantha Matulis, who has struck out 187 batters. East Bernard will counter with junior Courtney Repka who has struck out 416 batters in 35 games. She has walked only 12 and has an ERA of only 1.99. "Courtney gets up on the mound and competes like a workhorse," said Bush. "She is one of those kids who really leaves it on the field and is mature beyond her years. "She is not at all an arrogant kid and that probably helps her more being an athlete than anything else. Senior shortstop Haley Dawson said this year's team had a good chemistry. "We got the magic this year," said Dawson. "We have to think of it as another game and go out and have fun. We weren't picked to win so there was no pressure." Senior outfielder Paula Lopez echoed Wasek's sentiments. "Now that we're at state, now we have to focus on winning it all. We want to have the medals. Lopez added that the Brahmarettes gained the respect of the baseball team. "They said that we really did good," said Lopez. Senior second baseman Laura Kubes agreed the success has excited the community. "People in town when we go to stores and church are congratulating us," said Kubes. "We feel like mini celebrities. The last time an East Bernard girls team made it to state was the Brahmarette volleyball team1992-94. "We're getting some more recognition to our school," sad Kubes. East Bernard's 1993-94 baseball teams won state titles. |
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