Tuesday, March 12, 2002

AHS, Cooper baseball teams square off in district opener

By Brett Vito
Reporter-News Staff Writer

Jason Meyer has been looking forward to this afternoon for a long time, but not for the reason one might expect.

Revenge isn’t even on the Cooper pitcher’s mind heading into a 4 p.m. game against Abilene High, not when there are more important things to worry about like opening the District 4-5A race on the right foot.

“What happened in last year’s game against Abilene High motivated me last year,” Meyer said. “I am looking forward to pitching in this game because it’s the first of the district season and because it’s against Abilene High.”

A quick look at the history of the crosstown series tells why Meyer enjoys the chance to play a key role. The Cooper and Abilene High baseball teams always seem to battle for a playoff spot at the end of the year and each rivalry game tends to produce its own dramatic finish.

Last year was no exception.

Meyer, who led the district in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts, had Abilene High pinned into a corner in the final inning of the second game between the teams. Cooper led 6-2 with Meyer, who was the winning pitcher in the first game between the teams, pitching in the bottom of the seventh.

Abilene High mounted a rally and won, 10-6, on a grand slam by Cade Corley. The game ranked right up there with the best in the history of the Abilene High-Cooper series. Cooper used a late-season rally to recover from the loss and make the playoffs, while Abilene High used its win over the Cougars as the springboard for a run at the postseason that fell just short.

Cooper’s caste of veteran players is well aware of the series’ history and the importance of the each crosstown game.

“I don’t think there needs to be any extra motivation,” Cooper coach Scotty Pugh said. “We haven’t even talked about what happened last year.”

Even though falling to Abilene High was tough, Meyer maintained his confidence and came back with a vengeance this season, mowing down hitters on the way to a 3-0 record. Meyer has already thrown two one-hitters, including one in which the only hit of the game was a bunt that Cooper misplayed into a hit.

Pugh said after the game the bunt could easily been ruled an error, giving Meyer a no-hitter.

That performance is one of the big reasons why Pugh said he will send Meyer back to the mound at Blackburn Field to face the Eagles on the same field where he suffered the loss last year.

Meyer will see a completely different Abilene High lineup. The Eagles (6-5-2) do not have a single returning starter, but have shown potential in pre-district tournaments. Abilene High won the Rebound Bone and Joint AISD Classic title earlier this season.

“We have entirely new kids this year,” Abilene High coach Derran Lackey said. “We are an inexperienced team, while Cooper has a lot of experienced players. This game always seems to bring out the best in our guys, though.

Jeff Walker, who started just one District 4-5A game for the Eagles last season, will start against Cooper. The senior is 2-0 on the season.

Cooper (9-4) has also played well and posted several impressive wins, including Meyer’s 1-hit masterpiece against Round Rock.

“I am pleased with the way we are playing in some ways,” Pugh said. “Other areas we still need to improve. We still need to play better defense.”

Cooper will have the chance to improve its defense behind Meyer, while Abilene High will be looking for a second straight win in the series that often produces a dramatic finish and a hero for the day.

“We talked about the guys who won the game last year and tried to put our new guys in their shoes,” Lackey said. “We talked about who the next guy to step up in the series will be.”

Contact sports writer Brett Vito at 676-6771 or vitob@abinews.com.

Baseball: Cooper vs. Abilene High
n When: 4 p.m. today
n Where: Blackburn Field
n Records: Cooper 9-4, Abilene High 6-5-2
n Radio: KWKC 1340 AM

from the Reporter-News