Emerson, Ga. – When asked what he would consider a successful season, Head Coach Lane McCarter, responded with one phrase, “State Championship.” This shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that follows the Houston Mustangs program. Since Coach McCarter took over the program that resides in Germantown, Tenn., in late 1999, they have appeared in five state tournaments, with two runner-up finishes and one state title.
The Mustangs started their season at the 2015 Perfect Game High School Showdown a week earlier. Playing against some very strong competition like IMG Academy from Bradenton, Fla., and Mississippi powerhouse Desoto Central, the Mustangs program got off to a 2-2 start to the season. Now with the high pressure, quick start behind them Coach McCarter had his team primed for the start of the Louisville Slugger Select Classic.
Houston for the most part cruised to a 4-0 record and 1st place in the Louisville Slugger Select Classic. The biggest win of their tournament came against local Georgia powerhouse, Kennesaw Mountain.
Walter Rook took the mound and did what his coach expects out of his senior pitchers, “give them the ball and see you in the seventh.” Rook went all seven allowing four runs, all earned, with nine hits, zero walks and nine strikeouts. The supporting cast was lead by Arkansas commit Jack Kenley going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. To go along with Kenly, junior Arkansas State commit Cullen Ray and senior outfielder Logan Brown each had two hits. The Mustangs put up seven runs in the first two innings to give Rook the run support to go right at the Kennesaw Mountain hitters. A 8-4 victory secured a 3-0 record, and advanced the Mustangs into the Championship game against University School of Jackson.
The Mustang bats were not as active early in this game, only managing one run through the first four innings. That trend ended quickly in the fifth when Coleman Blair delivered a single to center, Jack Kenley tripled to right field and Jared Schmidt singled to center. Schmidt then advanced to second on an error by the USJ left fielder. Schmidt then stole not only third base, but also home when the pitcher received a throw back from the catcher, and did not think to pay attention to Schmidt on third.
The Mustangs entered the bottom of the fifth with a 4-0 cushion. This was more than enough for Senior Jackson State CC commit Nikko Warmus. Warmus completely shut down the USJ hitters allowing only one hit while striking out 11 and walking only two.
After a 4-0 record at the Louisville Slugger Select Classic, and a 6-2 overall record to start the season, Houston knows what it is going to take, and who is going to need to step up if they want to make it all the way to another state title.
“Pitching and defense, that’s the thing that’s got to be there every day”, Coach McCarter said referring to what will be needed for this team to be successful this year. “Offensively you can run into an arm that shuts you down. Solid defense and pitching is going to be what carries you into the playoffs and through the playoffs.”