Neighbors Veterans, Houston County matching successes
Fed by dominant Little League programs that have won numerous state titles and even the Little League World Series, both Veterans and Houston County are back in the semifinals together for the second time in just three seasons and are four wins away from a state championship.
“When the kids start playing, they have a basic idea of how to play the game, and that’s a credit to Perry Junior League and WRALL (Warner Robins American Little League),” Veterans head coach David Coffey said. “The players come to us and we’re kind of able to just polish things instead of having to teach everything.”
The Warhawks and the Bears have a lot in common in that they both swept quarterfinal series’ to advance to this point, but that’s just about where the similarities end. Houston County relies on arguably the state’s most talented starting pitching staff to keep opponents off of the board, while Veterans has utilized its deep lineup of hitters to score nine or more runs in five of seven playoff games to this point.
Coffey has Veterans back in the semifinals for the third consecutive season as they chase their elusive first state title. The Warhawks had everything clicking in their quarterfinal series against Woodward Academy as they pounded the War Eagles 9-0 in game one and led by as much as eight in the nightcap before settling for a 10-7 win.
Houston County had a much tougher go of it. Paired against a scrappy Columbus Blue Devils team with a championship pedigree 12 times over, the Bears came from behind in dramatic fashion in both games to win 5-4 and 8-7. Houston County showed its depth in game two, reaching deep onto the bench and drawing clutch performances from pinch hitters and relief pitchers alike.
Next up for the Bears is a trip to Gainesville, a place where Houston County fans and even a few current players have fond memories of. The Bears beat Gainesville in the 2014 semifinals on their way to winning the GHSA Class AAAAA championship.
“I remember where we stayed, I remember where we ate and I remember where we took BP (batting practice) prior to playing,” Houston County head coach Jason Brett said. “We’ll try to keep that same routine. It gives you some familiarity and it gives you an idea of what to do, who to call and where to go.”
No stranger to the road either, Veterans will board the buses north for the third consecutive round as it travels to Locust Grove.
“It’s going to be a heck of a series,” Coffey said. “We’re an offensive-based team and they’re a pitching- and defense-based team. It should make for a very interesting series.”
Both programs will open with double-headers on Monday, followed by an if-necessary contest on Tuesday.
This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 10:01 PM with the headline "Neighbors Veterans, Houston County matching successes."