DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – Houston Academy is set to open its playoff run against New Brockton, looking to turn a regular-season loss into postseason momentum.<\/p>\n
The Raiders and Gamecocks met once earlier this season, with Houston Academy falling 7\u20138 in a close matchup. Now, with a stronger and more complete team, the Raiders enter the three-game series with hopes of making a deep postseason run.<\/p>\n
Head coach Mike Mordecai said it took time early in the season for the team to come together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a handful of guys that didn\u2019t come out until a little bit later… it took us a little time to get our pitching in order. We had to bite the bullet earlier in the season but after the first six, seven games \u2014 we\u2019ve played much better,\u201d Mordecai said.<\/p>\n
Houston Academy enters the playoffs with a .356 team batting average and a 17\u201310 record. Once the pieces clicked, the Raiders became one of the area\u2019s most dangerous teams, racking up 260 hits, 214 runs, and 180 RBIs this season.<\/p>\n
Their pitching staff has been just as strong, led by junior Ty Morris, who threw a perfect game earlier this season against Ashford with nine strikeouts in five innings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just treating it like any other game. I was just feeling good that game. I didn\u2019t really realize I was doing anything special until the last inning when teammates started talking about it,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n
While the moment stood out, Mordecai said the focus quickly returned to fundamentals.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaseball has always been about pitching and defense. And then you manufacture runs. And we\u2019ve done that fairly well the last half of the season,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A later loss to Geneva served as a turning point for the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe made a lot of errors. And we got beat. So the message was easy for them. Hey, if you pitch and play defense, you got a chance to win. But when we play like that, that\u2019s what happens,\u201d Mordecai said.<\/p>\n
Inside the dugout, players say the team\u2019s success goes beyond stats \u2014 it\u2019s built on chemistry.<\/p>\n
\u201cA bunch of us have been playing together for years. We\u2019ve built a strong foundation, and we just play well together. We keep each other accountable and make sure we\u2019re always happy about playing,\u201d said senior William Lisenby.<\/p>\n
Lisenby, the team\u2019s lone senior, has taken on a leadership role for a younger roster. With his high school career winding down, each game carries added meaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would mean a lot to me because I won\u2019t get to play with any of these guys ever again. Any day now could be my last game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mordecai said the team has rallied around Lisenby, using his final season as motivation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost like he garners all the attention. Everyone wants to send him out on a good note. Let\u2019s play for this guy. And he is the ultimate teammate,\u201d Mordecai said.<\/p>\n
As they prepare for New Brockton, Mordecai pointed to the Gamecocks\u2019 scrappy play and strong pitching as key challenges.<\/p>\n
Still, the Raiders are confident.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling pretty confident. We know what they got. And I\u2019m just feeling confident of what we got \u2014 because we\u2019re kind of on a roll,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve played them before. If we play like we have been, I think we\u2019ll be pretty good \u2014 have a good chance to win,\u201d Lisenby added.<\/p>\n
Houston Academy hasn\u2019t had three full days of practice since the start of the season, but with time to reset, Mordecai has the team focused and refining the details.<\/p>\n
A postseason run is within reach \u2014 but first, the Raiders will have to get past the Gamecocks.<\/p>\n
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