Transcript
With us on Coaches Corner KWBG, going to talk some boon baseball today. Charlie Eastland joins us as the Torridors had season come to an end to Xavier. We'll talk more about that here in a few. But when we last, I feel like we're doing one of those last episodes. But when we last left talking to Charlie, I was getting ready for the Ballard Bombers. And we knew this was going to be one of those games that, boy, you get a chance to see somebody three times in one year. Anything can go. I know you felt really good about who you were going to throw that night. And we'll talk more about Noah in just a few. But Charlie, going in, this game kind of played out. I think how we thought it was low scoring. And who is going to make the play to win it, basically? Yeah, that's really what I anticipated Monday to look and like. I thought it was going to be a super competitive game, low scoring game. We knew that we're going to see tough pitching from Ballard. And I knew that Noah was going to go out there and compete and give us a really good chance to win. Just really pumped up about how our guys responded on Monday and how they went out and competed. And went out there and beat a team who we hadn't beat during the year. But a team that we knew that we were capable of beating. Our guys were calm. They were confident. They were excited for the opportunity to compete. And we just really felt good about it after Sunday's practice going into that game on Monday. You come out and you do something that, Charlie, you guys have done actually quite a few times this year. And that score run first. Is that huge in postseason? Can you talk on what it's like to be the visitor and get that first run on the board? I think it's big in any game, especially postseason though. But here's the deal. You got Noah Davies leading off for you. Like there's a really good chance that you're going to score a run. He gets on base by any means possible, whether he smokes a double to the gap or has a great at bat, works into a walk because they're cautious to pitch to him. Or he just simply wears a pitch knowing that that's the best thing for the team is for him to get on base. And then he's dangerous on the basis. And immediately, the opposing team has to worry about him as a base runner. And he's got two really good hitters sitting behind him in Levi and Tice. And for us to score in that, it's set up perfectly, right? Like it'd be awesome to lead off with him for the next 15 years in a row. But Noah's a senior and that's not going to happen. But that's what you want out of your lead off guy, being dangerous just like he is. Well, you told me off air. We didn't talk about this on air, but you were really excited to see what Noah Gorman could do on the mound. And that was something that you didn't hesitate when we were talking off air. I said, all right, what are we doing tonight? And you said, Noah Gorman, no questions, can't wait. And you said it so quickly. I knew how much confidence you had in him. Another off air conversation we had was about Noah. I think it's probably been about three or four weeks ago. Maybe, yeah, it's probably been about a month ago. You were looking forward to him just getting more opportunities on the mound because finally Boone Baseball was finally getting to play. The rain wasn't crushing you. You weren't losing double headers. I mean, it was finally time to Boone to play baseball. And you were excited to get him some more innings. Charlie, I don't want to say can I have the lottery numbers for Wednesday, but you kind of felt real good about Noah last Monday night. Yeah, definitely did. We knew like way back in January, February, like holy smokes, like this kid is a talent. He came to us as a very good pitcher right away. And yeah, just like you talked about early on, we just hadn't got ourselves to play five, six game weeks yet, just because of the way the rain schedule kind of hit us there. And so it was great to see him go out there and compete against some tough competition. And not a discredit to anyone else on our team as far as our pitching staff goes, but Noah attacks a strike zone and competes his tail off. And it has really good stuff. And we just knew that he was going to give us a good shot there in that baller game. That's exactly what he did. I mean, just completely rose to the occasion. Like it didn't bother him to pitch in a big game. And just really excited the way that he went out there and competed and a lot to be excited about moving forward with hands to the next three years. Well, and I don't want this to go unnoticed. And we're going to talk about, obviously, the winning run that ends up winning the game for you in the eighth inning. But I don't want Braxton Gifford's effort to go unnoticed, coach, because Noah gives you five and two-thirds. He gives up the one run that wasn't earned. Braxton Gifford comes in. This is not an easy spot, because you know ballards chomping up to bit saying, we've got to find a way to end this thing, maybe in the bottom of the seventh inning. And Gifford comes in, coach, two and a third gives up just one hit, one walk, two strikeouts. I mean, you want to talk about the future of boon pitching. It looks pretty bright to me. Yeah, definitely. Braxton was awesome when he came in. And again, calm, cool, confident. And I love his pace on the mound. He works fast. And as soon as he throws the pitch, he wants the ball, he wants to get the sign, he wants to deliver like immediately. And he can do that while still being good at holding runners as well. You know, I don't want to pretend to know anything about basketball, but just watching him compete on the court this winter. He just completely fearless and just wanted to compete any time that I've seen him step on the court there. And I kind of knew then that like, all right, this dude, he's ready for varsity baseball, for sure. Big run to come up with in the top of the eighth inning, coach, and I say that because Ballard had just tied it up in the bottom of the sixth. So you get that run in the top of the eighth inning. I thought this was a game that potentially could be going for quite a while that night. You guys just kind of get things done in the bottom of the eighth inning, and you're moving on to sub-state. That had to be a heck of a fun bus ride on the way home. Yeah, it definitely was, right? And just like you said, it kind of wondered, oh, boy, how many innings is this thing going to go for now, right? You go to extras. We'd kind of been there a year ago with Humboldt and going extra, extra, extra innings. And for us to score immediately in the top of the eighth and answer back right away, I just showed a lot of resilience and toughness out of our guys, I thought. So anytime you give up a lead in a tight game and a one-nothing game, it's like, shoot. Did momentum swing the other way, but we were able to punch back immediately and get our lead and then get ourselves out of a really tough situation there in the bottom of the eighth as well. And yeah, just pumped up for our guys and just felt good about it. Yeah, they were very happy and excited on the bus ride home on Monday, yeah. Well, then you get just a couple of days to get ready for Xavier and obviously opponent that you're not familiar with. Charlie, tell me, what was it like Monday night into Tuesday? Because I know you got a scheme a little bit, but I also know that you know quite a few guys around when it comes to baseball. Did you make any calls or how did you guys get the scouting report put together? In my opinion, in a relatively short amount of time. Right, yeah. I think when you're competitively cordial with other coaches, there's a massive amount of respect that we have for everyone that we play in our conference. And before we start the JV game in a JV varsity, you typically take 10 minutes to catch up with people and just have a good conversation. Because really, you both enjoy doing the same things. You love baseball. You love working with young kids. And so you share a lot of common interests, right? And so when you develop these relationships year after year, and it makes it pretty easy to make a call then and say, hey, can you help me out, right? And I just think that that's the right way to do things. And of course, if someone's reaching out about someone that you compete with over the course of the season, especially a conference opponent that you respect, you just kindly decline and say, good luck, and you move along your way. And again, I just think that's the right way to do things. So it's nice to have good relationships and some friends that can help you out when you're going into a game with an opponent that you are not familiar with, yeah. Xavier with a four spot in the bottom of the first inning. Coach, to me, looked like they were super patient from the plate. There was, I mean, 1 through 9, in my opinion, whether it be the ninth guy or the top guy. I felt like this is a team that maybe could do a little damage. I know they got the three seed at the state tournament. It wouldn't surprise me to see them in the final, to be honest. I feel like they're a pretty complete team. Give me some thoughts, though, that four spot in the bottom of the first makes things difficult, doesn't it? Yeah, it certainly does. And you're right, a really good team. Credit to them. Their pitch was really good. Their relief pitcher, I think, was even better. And we didn't see their number one or two with no hitter on Monday against the Moin Christian. And so just like you said, they got some depth in their pitching that I think they can make a run with. I thought their hitters all put together really tough at bats.
The strike zone was pretty much right over the plate. And I just feel like if we can get something on the corners, that might help us relax and settle down a little bit. But Xavier was patient knowing that. And then when you had to feed the ball right over the plate, then it's going to get smashed against good hitting. It's just kind of the way that it is. If we could have limited their right, got out of the first with giving up two runs instead of four. I think you feel better about it, you know, just being down one run instead of three. But that first thing is big. Momentum's a big thing. And you try your best to limit damage. And, you know, we never gave up, right? Just continued to fight. We also put together good at bats. And I think we hit into some loud outs as well. Their outfielders did a really good job of covering ground. But they're a solid baseball team. And it'll be really interesting to see what they're able to put together here this week. Charlie, any surprise from you that we have two Raccoon River Conference teams at the State Baseball Tournament in Class 3A? No, not at all. That's pretty much what you'd expect. And North Pole, Carlisle, I think they'll represent the conference really well. And again, it'll be interesting to see what they do at the tournament here this week as well. But it's a tough go in the rack. And, yeah, excited to see what those two teams can do. Charlie, we'll wrap up the season coming up next Monday. Thanks for some time here today. Yep, you bet, Ryan. Thank you. You bet. Charlie Island again joining us. Boone Baseball here on Coaches Corner.
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