Published: May 21, 2008 11:27 am            

Early start for the Bobcats

State opens SLC tourney against UTA

HUNTSVILLE — Today will be the first time in eight years that members of the Texas State baseball team will play a baseball game under the morning haze. The Bobcats opened the Southland Conference tournament at 9 a.m. against Texas-Arlington.

Texas State is used to playing mid-afternoon or night games during their 2008 season. The earliest first pitch was for its games began at 2 p.m. . Today, first pitch is five hours earlier.

“This is my first game that early,” Bobcat head coach Ty Harrington said. “We’re only going to take batting practice for 20 minutes. We’re not going to leave too early because it’s even too early for me.”

When it’s too early for Harrington, a fifth-year head coach, it’s too early for the rest of the team — right?

“It’s not like we’re playing a meaningless summer game,” Texas State first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. “Everyone’s focus will be as high as it has ever been.”

The Bobcats will need the focus if they want to advance deep into the postseason. Texas State is playing its best baseball at the right part of the season.

Last weekend, the Bobcats took two games from UTSA, who clinched the regular-season conference championship a week earlier. Texas State put 10 runs across the plate on both Thursday and Saturday, while being shut out on Friday.

Lance Loftin paced the Bobcats against the Roadrunners, hitting four home runs and driving in 10 runs. Loftin is swinging a hot stick and teams were even pitching around him to get to Goldschmidt, the 2008 SLC Hitter of the Year.

“Early in the year I was just trying to put the ball into play and now I can tell what pitch is coming out of his hand,” Loftin said. “But even I’m going to have a bad game, so we have to all be doing it together. This is a team sport. If we want to win the championship, we have to pick each other up.”

Texas State combined to pound out 25 hits in the two wins against UTSA, so its players are fortifying around Loftin. When the Bobcats played UTA earlier this season, they raked 47 base knocks in the three-game series.

Mike Hart got the start for Texas State and he was opposed by Mavs starter Ryan Robinson. On the year, Robinson is 6-5 with a 5.33 ERA. Robinson isn’t a hard thrower and opponents hit .301 off him, so the Bobcat hitters could have a field day.

“We hit lefties as well as we hit righties, so I am not going to be worried,” Harrington said. “Plus, I think we’re playing as well as we’ve played all year. Our understanding of what we are trying to do on the mound and at the plate has really picked up.”

Texas State hit so well, they were recognized with six postseason awards, including Goldschmidt’s hardware. Thomas Field and Adam Witek joined Goldschmidt on the first team, while Loftin and Zach Tritz earned second-team honors. Hart was named to the third team.

It’s going to be a team effort to advance deep into the SLC tournament and the Bobcats know it. They don’t want a repeat of last year, where they dropped the first game to Sam Houston and were forced to backtrack.

“If we pulled the last game out, we would have been able to double-dip (Sam Houston) the last day,” Goldschmidt said. “If we lose, I don’t think anyone will be too down. But it’s important to get out there and take the first one.”

        

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