John Curtis prepares for a semi-finals matchup against Catholic-Baton Rouge, seeking to overcome past playoff defeats. The Bears, defending state champs, have eliminated the Patriots in previous years.
Key points
John Curtis prepares for semi-finals against Catholic-Baton Rouge
The Bears are the defending state champs in Division I Select
Catholic-Baton Rouge has eliminated John Curtis in playoffs for four years
The Battard Brothers provide depth in the bullpen for the Patriots
Curtis acknowledges the challenge ahead in the upcoming match
John CurtisCatholic-Baton RougeDivision I Select
John Curtis leans on depth in bullpen, Battard Brothers aid in Patriotsâ playoff success
HARAHAN, La. (WGNO) â Itâs near deja-vu for John Curtis as they prepare for a semi-finals bout with Catholic-Baton Rouge.
The Bears are the defending state champs in Division I Select, but it was just last season where the Patriots were swept by them in the quarterfinal round.
âTheyâre the king of Division I Select baseball right nowâ, Curtis says. âTheyâve eliminated us from the playoffs over the last four years, even the quarterfinals and state championship. Obviously we have a tremendous, tremendous challenge ahead of us.â
Familiarity weighs heavy between both squads but for Curtis head coach Jeff Curtis, their main mission is to play Patriotsâ ball.
âThey got three or four guys back in their lineup that were in their lineup last year and weâve got probably five or six guys back. Weâre going to go up to Baton Rouge, play as hard as we can, as long as we can and hopefully come out on top for an opportunity to win a trip to Sulphur for the state championship.â
In their quarterfinal series with Jesuit, John Curtis tallied 28 runs.
Curtis believes that their dominant offense can carry them to Sulphur, but their arsenal of arms pose a threat as well, including the Battard brothers.
âCouldnât be prouder of the Battard brothers and the way that they competed and gave us a chance to the backend.â
This past weekend, Caden and Tyler Battard showed another meaning of âBrotherly Loveâ.
In game two of the series, the Battards allowed 3 runs, striking out 6 â splitting three a piece.
âI had to step up and help a teammate out, he would do the same for meâ, says junior pitcher, Caden. âI just came in and threw strikes. When you have a good defense like this, you throw strikes and good things happen.â
For Tyler, a freshman, the playoffs is the biggest stage thus far of his young career.
âItâs a really big moment for me that he trusts me to go in that situation and do what I always do.â
Playing the two-seeded Bears on the road will be the biggest hurdle of the season for the Patriots, but helping lead a battle-tested bullpen is priceless for the Battards.
âItâs awesome getting to share this moment with him. Weâre going to remember this for a long time and itâs a lot of fun. Weâre just taking it game by game and weâre ready for the next round.â
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Q&A
What is the history between John Curtis and Catholic-Baton Rouge in playoffs?
John Curtis has been eliminated by Catholic-Baton Rouge in the playoffs for the last four years, including quarterfinals and state championship matches.
Who are the Battard Brothers and how do they contribute to the Patriots' success?
The Battard Brothers are key players for the Patriots, providing depth in the bullpen that aids in their playoff success.
What challenges does John Curtis face in the upcoming semi-finals?
John Curtis faces a significant challenge against Catholic-Baton Rouge, the reigning state champions in Division I Select baseball.
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