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Buffaloes confident as postseason begins
TL;DR
McAlester baseball will face Booker T. Washington in the regional tournament's first round. The Buffaloes, finishing third in their district, are confident but aware of the potential challenge posed by the rebuilding Hornets.
Key points
- McAlester baseball faces Booker T. Washington in the regional tournament.
- Buffaloes finished third in their district with a record of 20-17.
- Booker T. Washington is a rebuilding team after graduating several seniors.
- Coach Justin Mullins emphasizes the need to take the Hornets seriously.
- A potential second-round matchup against Claremore awaits if McAlester advances.
McAlester BuffaloesBooker T. Washington HornetsClaremore
McAlester baseball will face Booker T. Washington in the first round of the regional tournament in Claremore Thursday.
While the Buffaloes (Class-5A-4 20-17, 8-4) finished the regular season third in their district, the Hornets (Class-5A-3 10-20, 5-9) finished sixth in their’s. Last year, Booker T. Washington graduated several seniors, which made this season one for rebuilding.
While McAlester appears to have the advantage on paper, the team knows it will have to take its opponent seriously in the postseason, coach Justin Mullins said.
“They’re a team that, if you don’t go play and you give them a lot of stuff, they’re going to be in the ball game and have a chance to beat you for sure,” coach Mullins said. “Coach Potocnik has been there for 20 or 30 years and he does a really good job with them so you know he’ll have them ready to play for sure.”
If the Buffaloes move on from the first round, it’s anticipated they’ll face host Claremore (Class-5A-22-12, 12-2) in the second round. The two teams met up over two weeks ago in the 5A Baseball Shootout at Mike Deak Field where McAlester pulled out the 5-3 victory.
Though it could be tough to get a second win over a quality Zebra team, beating them the first time gives them confidence in a rematch.
“They’re a quality club,” Mullins said. “We beat them 5-3 in the shootout here so we feel like we match up well with them.”
As for their chances of advancing out of the regional, Mullins believes his team can play with the best in the state. The Buffaloes could make some noise in the playoffs if they play to their potential.
“I think we’ve got a great chance,” Mullins said. “It’s a great opportunity for us because it’s like I’ve told the kids, it’s more about us than it is about anybody else.
“If we go out there and we compete in the zone and we swing the bats like we’re capable of, I feel like we can beat anybody. I think the sky’s the limit with these guys.”
McAlester plays Booker T. Washington 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Claremore.
Q&A
What is McAlester baseball's record heading into the postseason?
McAlester baseball has a record of 20-17 with an 8-4 district performance.
Who will McAlester face in the first round of the regional tournament?
McAlester will face Booker T. Washington in the first round of the regional tournament.
What are the potential next matchups for McAlester in the postseason?
If McAlester wins, they are expected to face Claremore in the second round.
