Lakers, Rivet to meet in post season, again

Shakamak baseball coach Matt Fougerousse (left) and Tyler Sparks watch the action earlier from the third base area earlier this post season. The Lakers will meet Vincennes Rivet at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Avon Semistate. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

"If you can't get fired up for a chance to get to Victory Field, then I don't know what will," Lakers head coach Matt Fougerousse said. "Our team is pretty hungry to get back to the state finals and defend their title, but we know that Vincennes Rivet will be just as hungry to get there as well."

The two teams also met up in the regular seasonback in April, with the Lakers walking away with a 6-3 win at Vincennes. Both coaches agreed that game will not matter come Saturday.

The Shakamak baseball team raises the sectional trophy in celebration after claiming title No. 19 June 2. The Lakers will meet Vincennes Rivet at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Avon Semistate. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

"You can tear that page out of the scorebook," Rivet head coach Bill Beard said. "I don't think either team is anywhere near where they were at that point. Neither team saw the others top two pitchers."

Fougerousse echoed the same thoughts.

"I think both teams have gotten a lot better since then," the third year head coach said. "It just so happened that neither team pitched their ace, so you can throw that game completely out the window."

Spencer Werth and Brady Mouzin are the Patriots top to arms according to Beard. Werth was the winning pitcher in the Patriots 4-2 win to capture the regional championship over No. 6 Tecumseh, while Mouzin shut down Loogootee to claim the sectional championship.

"We really hang our hat on our pitching and defense," Beard said. "We have only made one error in the post season and our pitching has given up just four runs."

Fougerousse said the keys to making a four consecutive trip to Victory Field will be the same as it is for every game.

"I don't mean to sound like a broken record but in my opinion keys to winning for us never changes," Fougerousse said. "We have to limit the amount of free passes, whether it be walks, hit batters or errors and come up with timely hitting.

"The old cliché of pitching and defense wins championships is true, but you also have to be able to hit as well."

Billy Newton has been the hottest hitter for the Lakers in the post season, hitting a home run in the regional title game.

"Billy has swung the bat pretty consistent all season," Fougerousse said. "There was a stretch where he was just hitting the ball right at people and not getting credit for hits, but he is finding holes and gaps now. His bat is red hot right now."

Fougerousse also mentioned Tyler Sparks, T.J. Hill and Jarred VanHorn has also came through with some key hits in the post season, and said designated hitter and back-up catcher, Kade Sapp is really starting to swing the bat well also.

First baseman Matt Sievers is the leading hitter for the Patriots according to Beard and the rest of the lineup is pretty even.

"We have seven other hitters that are all between .260 and .300," Beard said. "We do not have a lot of power but we have good balance and put the ball in play."

Fougerousse mentioned the team that does not buckle under pressure will advance.

"We are expecting a good game," he said. "Both teams will put the ball in play and put pressure on the other teams defense. The team that gets the job done in the pressure situations will come out on top."

Beard said he feels like the two teams roles have reversed from a season ago.

"Last year we had a big strikeout guy pitching, where as this year their pitcher is the strikeout pitcher," the second-year Patriots coach said. "Also they had a senior dominated team, where this year we have five or six seniors in our starting lineup. I feel like we may have the edge on experience"

Fougerousse agreed to an extent about the experience factor.

"This year our line-up one through nine is pretty much different and they may have more varsity experience," Fougerousse said. "But this late in the season I feel like everyone has the experience to get the job done."

Even though the Lakers have been in the semistate title game for the seventh straight season, Fougerousse said his teams do not overlook anyone.

"We preach to the kids to respect who they play every game," he said. "It doesn't matter if we are playing them for the first time or third time, you are only as good as your game at hand."

Tyler Richardson and T.J. Hill will be the Lakers top two pitchers, and both could see action Saturday.

"I am pretty pleased with our pitching," Fougerousse said. "We thought coming into the season with our top two pitchers returning that it would be our strong suit, and it's right where we thought it would be.

"I don't know if Tyler has pitched his best game yet during the post season, but both him and T.J. have pitched well enough to win games and it's going to take another good pitching performance Saturday to advance."

The Patriots and Lakers will lock horns at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Avon High School for the right to play for the state title next weekend at Victory Field.

"We are looking forward to the challenge," Beard said. "Shakamak has a tremendous tradition, it should be a fun game."

"Hopefully we can come out and match their intensity from the start," Fougerousse said.