Sports

What drought?

• Whatever you do, don’t mention the 20-year drought since the Westwood baseball team has played in a state title series — because they really don’t care.

Derek Barichello

CAMILLA — Westwood baseball’s six seniors certainly are savoring the moment.

On Friday afternoon, they will become the first Wildcats team in 20 years to take the field in a championship series when they travel to Flint River Academy — and with a pair of wins in the best-of-three series — they could become the first since 1988 to win it all.

But buried deep in the minds of those seniors during the magical playoff run — which saw an 8-8 team and No. 2 seed in the regular season reel off three consecutive playoff series victories, two of them on the road against No. 1 seeds —was the vague memories from their freshman season.

And what a dismal one it was During 2005, they played in the final season of an 0-51 streak that lasted four seasons.

“Back when we were 0-51, we just didn’t care,” Wildcats senior catcher Tyler Thompson said. “We usually beat ourselves. It would be like 10 errors every game.”

As a result, those sour memories have helped fuel this year’s championship run.

“I think once we started winning, we realized how much better it felt,” Wildcats senior Ty Blackburn said. “We started working harder and caring about it. Back then, since we didn’t expect much, it didn’t bother us.”

After that freshman season, the Wildcats went on to win a Region 3-A title but suffered a loss in their first playoff series after a first-round bye. Then last season, it was a return to the doldrums of the region with another sub-.500 season.

But through all the ups and downs, the seniors are glad they stuck together.

“It means a lot to us because, we’ve been playing with each other for so long,” Wildcats senior Brett Shiver said. “All six of us were all-stars on the same team when we won the 10-year old district championship. We’ve known each other forever. It’s nice to think about.”

And that perseverance through all the ups and downs is what Westwood coach Al Timmerman believes has characterized this group of seniors.

“I think it’s been a testament to our kids to have endured all that,” Timmerman said. “They’ve stayed in the program and now they are being rewarded.”

n Call Them Superstitious: Part of baseball is superstition, and part of the Wildcats’ magical run has been keeping theirs alive.

First, the Wildcats never step on the baseline when they take the field and they always have to chatter when their batter is up, chants such as players taking turns shouting “rip” off key, or after a pitch goes past for a ball, yelling out “good eye, good eye, break it down.”

The Wildcats have also noticed when last weekend’s Game 3 winner Lee Jacobs father Robbie started attended the games, they have left winners.

But all those superstitions are nothing compared to the biggest of all for the Wildcats.

While eating at Zaxby’s on their first road trip in the second round against Nathanael Greene, Wildcats freshman Taylor Bentley bought one of those fake dragon tattoos out of a vending machine and wore it on his behind for good luck.

It seemed to work, as the Wildcats defeated the Patriots in two games.

However, because the tattoo finally wore off after Games 1 and 2 against David Emanuel, there was no debate where the team had to go to eat.

Or what they needed to find.

Amazingly, they found another Zaxby’s in Stillmore, and fortunately for them — after $4.25 of feeding the vending machine — Bentley was able find and put the same dragon tattoo back.

And no shocker, the Wildcats were able to come through with the win.

More Sports>>