Deer Park, Travis clash with trip to state tourney on the line

With four Division I baseball signees, Travis has star power. Deer Park has rebuilt from last season's deep playoff run and the Deer are hopeful of advancing past the Region III-6A championship series. A round that derailed them a year ago.

While Deer Park has made deep playoff runs, Travis has never advanced this far in the baseball playoffs. In its 10th year of playing varsity baseball, the deepest the Tigers have reached was the third round in 2014.

Last season, Deer Park won its first 35 games and were nationally ranked. Chris Rupp's team was five outs away from going to the state tournament before Langham Creek rallied to win Game 2. The Lobos also won Game 3, ending the Deer's season, a series win away from state.

"We don't think about the past much," said Deer Park lefthander Peyton Sherlin. "But it's a factor in the back of our minds that drives us. We've moved on. We play our game and get the job done."

Both Deer Park and Rodney Hernandez's Travis Tigers are getting it done on the field. A spot in the state tournament in Round Rock awaits the winner of the best-of-three series, which starts on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Sweeny.

"We just love playing the game," said Deer Park lefthander Clay Aguilar. "We come out with a lot of energy and we all stay in it."

Surprisingly, Rupp said, despite last year's success, expectations weren't overly high this season for Deer Park, which has received excellent pitching from Sherlin (Dallas Baptist), Aguilar (Houston) and go-to pitcher Adrian Gonzales (Alvin C.C.). Swinging the hot bat has been Chase Keng (UTSA).

And the Deer (31-7) have delivered, going 8-2 in the postseason following a 5-2 Game 3 win over Ridge Point at UH's Schroeder Park to win the regional semifinals.

"These guys have stepped up and done a great job," said Rupp, in his fifth year as the Deer's head coach. "It's been quite an enjoyable ride and they keep meeting the challenge. What's more special about this bunch is that half these guys that are starting for us this year, were on J.V. last year."

Playing junior varsity a year ago were catcher Reece Moon, infielder Blaine Holden and outfielders Austin Mitchell and Kolton Fowler.

"We're just a team that likes to keep things moving when we get on base and put pressure on the defense any way we can," Rupp said. "And we pitch. We've pitched well all year."

Travis (31-6) is just as talented as Deer Park. The Tigers reached the regional final by sweeping North Shore 7-2, 15-3 in the semifinals at Rice's Reckling Park.

"I know they've (Travis) got good pitching and they're very aggressive at the plate," Rupp said. "I think we've got the kind of pitching that can give us a chance against them. I know it's not going to be easy, but it's going to be an exciting series and the team that makes the fewest mistakes will come out on top."

The high expectations this year were on Travis because of their personnel. Outfielder Cole Turney, who is expected to go in the first two rounds of the upcoming major league draft, signed with Arkansas. Righthander Ryan Rickett (11-1) signed with Missouri, outfielder Dominic Cox with Rice and first baseman Wes Faison with Texas State. Sophomore righthander Trey Faltine is 9-0 on the season.

"The expectations were high at the beginning of the year with all the kids that signed their scholarships and now you have a target on your back," Hernandez said.