Aledo baseball coach Chad Barry was disappointed when he learned the UIL was changing its playoff format.
He knew many players who typically contributed in a two-game state tournament - semifinals and state final - would not see action in a single-game state championship.
But he also recognized a potential advantage.
Aledo pitcher Devin Miller, one of the top arms in the Dallas area, would be rested and eligible to start the Class 5A Division I championship, thanks to the new weeklong gap between games. The new format split the classifications into two divisions, while giving teams the option of a best-of-3 series in the state semifinals instead of playing just one game like in the past.
The Cal State Fullerton pledge struck out seven and allowed just three hits in a shutout victory Friday over McKinney North to send his team to the state final. Miller enters the title game Friday against Spring Branch Smithson Valley with a 10-1 record, 77 strikeouts and only 10 earned runs allowed this season.
“For the last two years, he’s been our ace,” Barry said. “He’s been our workhorse. He knows he has a lot of help this year from some other great pitchers as well, but for the last two seasons, he’s kind of been our catalyst.
“He gives us a great chance to win every time he steps on the field, and our kids play really confidently behind him.”
Under UIL rules, high school pitchers are limited to 110 pitches per day and are required to have four days’ rest between games if they throw more than 86. If Aledo had made the state semifinals last season, Barry said he would have used Miller, leaving him unavailable for the final. Now, with extra recovery time, he’s fully available for the team’s second state championship appearance and first since winning the title in 2014.
Aledo also has depth behind Miller, including junior Luke Sandefur, who threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in the state semifinal opener. Sandefur is 10-1 with a team-high 83 strikeouts this season.
“It’s a possibility that if Devin goes out and can’t find the strike zone or something happens, then we have four or five different guys that will be able to get ready at a moment’s notice,” Barry said. “In one game, everything tightens a little bit.”
Grapevine coach Jimmy Webster faced a similar decision. If his team returned to the state championship, he knew exactly who would take the mound.
LSU pledge Luke Esquivel, a two-way freshman, has been Grapevine’s Game 1 starter throughout the playoffs and will get the ball Friday in the Class 5A Division II final against Humble Kingwood Park.
“We’re not gonna play in the state championship without him pitching,” Webster said. “He’s earned that ability. He’s earned the right.”
Esquivel is 11-1 with 118 strikeouts this season. He struck out eight in a 2-0 semifinal win over Lovejoy. He also stars as Grapevine’s leadoff hitter, boasting 53 hits, 33 RBIs and just 10 strikeouts at the plate.
Esquivel itted he was more nervous at the start of his first early-season tournament than he is now. He credits his comfort to experience, and the results back it up. He enters the championship game riding three straight shutouts.
“I just matured over the year and am excited to see what this next game holds,” Esquivel said.
Last season, Webster used his top pitcher in the semifinals and secondary arms in the final. This year, with the new format, he can use his entire staff if needed.
Grapevine has three pitchers with at least 45 strikeouts, including two with more than 68.
“One game takes out some of the unknown of pitcher possibilities,” Webster said. “‘No, we can’t use this guy. We gotta save him for the championship game if we get there, but if we don’t get there, we should’ve used them.’ Now it’s just everybody’s healthy. Everybody’s on board. You do what you need to do to win one game.”
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