Published: May 16, 2008 10:19 pm            

Tradition-rich Owls want regional wins

BLUEFIELD — Big Creek is in familiar territory. They’d rather not have the same result.

Winning the sectional title has been a long-time habit for the Owls, but the Big Creek baseball team is still looking for its first trip to the Class A state tournament since 1997.

Back then the state tourney was played at Watt Powell Park in Charleston, a place that Big Creek coach Jimmy Redmond played in while a student at Mount View. He’d like a chance to take his Owls to the new Power Park, home of the West Virginia Power baseball team.

“I’m sure the new field is outstanding to play in, especially with the big crowds,” Redmond said.

Before the Owls can start thinking that far ahead, there are still two games on the schedule, beginning Monday when Big Creek plays a Region III semifinal game against either Fayetteville or Midland Trail at

Oak Hill High School at 6:30 p.m.

They were slated to determine their sectional title today.

“I haven’t seen either team play. We played Midland Trail last year, but the coach retired and we didn’t get to play this year,” said Redmond, whose Owls must win two games to reach Charleston. “As for Fayetteville, that team up in Beckley and that area up there, they play good summer ball.

“They’re dedicated to playing so that is always going to be tough.”

Big Creek, which defeated Montcalm 8-4 and 17-1 in last Tuesday’s sectional playoffs, hasn’t played since. That’s because of the week-long playing ban due to the annual state testing.

“We’re just staying in shape and we’ll keep swinging the bats,” Redmond said. “You’ve always got to swing the bats and put some runs up.

“We’ve got to keep the pitchers in shape and get them throwing throughout the week. With the Westest, we’ve got to take the week off. We’ve got to practice, but they say not to practice too long.”

In Redmond’s third season at Big Creek, the Owls are 10-7-1, the school’s first winning record under his tenure, following a 6-13 mark in ‘06 and last year’s .500 (9-9) finish.

Big Creek was blown out by Fayetteville at the same point last year, but did have an early lead before Mother Nature intervened.

“Last year we played a little bit better, but we had a lightning storm,” Redmond said. “We had to sit for about an hour and we may have had a lead. I think we were ahead 3-1, but they came out of the rain delay and just starting hitting.”

Included among Big Creek’s wins this season is a doubleheader split with Mount View and two victories over Iaeger, along with the tie coming in the opener against Hurley.

“We had a bump in the road during spring break,” said Redmond, who played at West Virginia State and Fairmont State. “We played a lot of games during that week and we lost a few games then so we could have definitely had a lot better season.”

“This is the first winning season since I’ve been here so we’ve improved each year.”

Big Creek’s future looks bright, with just one senior, that being Aaron Holland, who alternates in center field with Austin Johnson, a freshman who is batting .318 with a team-leading four home runs and 21 hits. Holland is hitting .204, but does lead the Owls with seven doubles.

Redmond can also turn to left fielder Josh Evans, who leads the team with a .389 average, and catcher Shane Hicks, who is hitting .333 with 21 runs scored. Brian Patterson has played well down the stretch, batting .327 with two home runs.

There’s also a pair of Codys. Cody Underwood is batting .300 with a team-leading 31 runs scored. He has two homers, 16 walks and has fanned just five times. Cody Johnson is hitting .235, having crossed the plate 22 times.

“Those two guys have been key this year in putting the ball in play and getting on base,” Redmond said.

As for pitching, Redmond can choose from Austin Johnson, Cody Underwood and Patterson.

“They have thrown a lot of the innings,” said Redmond, who added that Patterson or Johnson would start on Monday. “Brian has a good mix with his curveball, Austin throws fairly hard, and Cody has that that good mix like Brian with a decent curveball.”

Redmond knows the defense behind that trio must be ready the routine plays, and stick to the fundamentals.

“Defensively, we’re not too bad, we’ve gotten better as the year has went on,” Redmond said. “The thing we stress to them is we need to get outs.

“When you got to play the game fundamentally right, things won’t snowball on you. Walks and errors will kill you, but in our last practice we did a good job defensively. We looked better out in the field.”

While the Beckley-area schools have an active summer program, there is no such thing in McDowell County. Redmond knows that makes it tough on the Owls.

“That’s what we need in this area. Actually when I was in school we had to travel to Beckley or Oak Hill to play,” said Redmond, who added that Big Creek plans to add a middle school program next year. “It’s a lot easier when they have played and they know what to do out there.

“Summer league is when you get better.”

The summer can wait. Redmond wants to keep the spring season moving on, even with the long break between games.

“You’ve got to have a plan, right now we’re going live,” Redmond said. “We’re splitting up and we’re scrimmaging to stay in game situations.

“If it rains, we go in the gym, set up the pitching machine and get in our swings.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com

        

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