Brent Hall has a special bond with his seniors. He’s coached them in the summer, at camps or during the season since they were 11 years old.
Hall knows what each is capable of, which could mean an end to the Houston baseball program’s 15-year district drought.
“They’ve stuck with me and I’ve stuck with them,” said Hall, who has a 113-70 record in eight seasons with the Tigers. “I’ve got a pretty close relationship with all those guys and I’m really looking forward to sending them out on a good note.”
With a core of five seniors and six starters from last year’s 17-6 team, Hall has high expectations for 2007. With a hard-hitting lineup and ambidextrous staff ace, the Tigers, who lost in the district finals to Mansfield last year, could make a run at their sixth-ever district championship and first since 1992.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we can’t get (to the district finals) again and move on into the state playoffs,” Hall said. “The sky’s the limit.”
Houston, which traditionally relies on pitching and defense, may have its strongest offensive team yet under Hall.
The team’s top hitter — junior catcher Kirk Pierce, who batted a team-best .453 with 25 RBIs — and top three run producers back to anchor the lineup. Leadoff hitter Justin Stringer led the Tigers with 16 steals and sandwiched around Pierce are seniors Gus Durst (.324, 25 RBIs) and Travis Swearengin (.314, 24 RBIs).
The Tigers should be even sharper at the plate from hours of working during the offseason. Hall rented a building in downtown Houston so that the team could have an indoor batting cage for the first time. The few times Hall overslept for their 6 a.m. batting sessions, the players would call his house to see where he was at.
“I feel like I’m blessed with a hard-working group of guys,” Hall said.
Houston’s strength may be hitting, but Hall is confident in his pitching as well. Durst returns after going 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 43 innings last year. There’s also plenty of depth with left-hander Cory Hart (2-0, 3.82 ERA), Nathan Trentham (3-3, 3.15) and Swearengin.
The Tigers lost staff ace Trever Sudheimer, who went 5-3 with a team-best 2.01 ERA in 52 1/3 innings. Durst, a right-hander who can also pitch as a south-paw — he threw from the left side in one inning last year and may do the same this year — will slide into the No. 1 role.
Durst, who has a reportoire of four pitches he can throw in any count, was a second-team all-conference selection last year.
“He’ll be our guy to put out there in a must-win game,” Hall said. “He’ll be able to keep us there with any of the top teams.”
Pierce, who has started every game of his career behind the plate, will handle Durst and the rest of the staff. The junior catcher was one of the conference’s top hitters last year to earn honorable mention honors. Pierce is also strong defensively and Hall said he has greatly improved his arm strength.
When he isn’t pitching, Durst will anchor the infield, which returns all but one player, at shortstop. When he’s on the mound, Trentham will occupy the position. Stringer, who moved up from sixth to first in the lineup, will start at second and sophomore Caleb Smith makes the transition from catching to third base.
At first, Hart offers a big 6-foot-3 target. When he’s pitching — Hart went 2-0 with a 3.82 ERA last year — junior Tom Oakley will play the position. Oakley will also share DH duties.
Swearengin, who has the outfield’s and pitching staff’s best arm, returns as the starting center fielder. Flanking him are junior A.J. Castleman, a converted first baseman, and sophomore David Weybright.
Depth is a concern for Hall, although he has a few options. David Foster will be the first player off the bench in the outfield, Joe Chernowski backs up Pierce behind the plate and Joey Herndon and Brad Pounds will play utility roles on the infield.
If the Tigers stay healthy, Hall knows he can expect a successful season.
“I’m really counting on the seniors and Kirk Pierce,” Hall said. “I know what they’re capable of and they’re ready to produce.”