By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Jackson — Back in familiar territory with familiar pressures to overcome and a familiar prize now just two wins away.
A year ago the Lumen Christi baseball team came to East Lansing with a dream and left with the Division 3 state championship trophy.
On Friday, the Titans can take one step closer to a little sweet déjà vu.
“Every game we have out there, we talk about enjoying it,” coach Phil Clifford said about is guys approach to the D-3 semifinal. “They are a trained team at this point. They understand everything. Now it’s about enjoying it and playing the game we can.”
It’s playing that game that’s earned Lumen a spot in this game, a 2:30 p.m. tilt with New Lothrop with a spot in the state final on the line.
Still, even as he fielded questions about being a defending state champ and exactly what that means, Clifford stressed that all focus for his group is on the here, the now and nothing else.
“We really don’t like to think too much ahead,” he said. “I think as coaches, you have to gameplan for what could be next. But our players are focused on one game. We talk about playing in the moment. We’re not worried about the past of the future.”
The present is enough to worry about in a 40-3 New Lothrop team.
On Wednesday, Clifford said he didn’t know a ton about his team’s opponent just yet, but did say having been here a year ago could serve as an advantage.
“We’ve played at (the University of Michigan) and played at (Eastern Michigan University), so we’ve been to those big venues,” he said. “You don’t want the guys to have that awe sense when you play in a stadium like this. We feel like we’re prepared for these moments. I think that is an advantage having been here. We understand the set up, the field, the schedule of the day.”
Again, not knowing a ton about New Lothrop, Clifford said his guys will simply sorry about themselves and the way they play.
Lumen is 25-13 entering the semifinal.
“Another advantage for us is the way we’ve battled,” he said. “We were down 6-0 in the playoffs and won. We were down 4-1 (in the quarterfinals) and won. The experience these guys have is so key. They understand every time out is a seven-inning game.”
Zach Mehelich, who earned the win in relief Tuesday in the 11-4 victory over Schoolcraft, is expected to start the semifinal on the mound.
“When you get to this point in the tournament, it can be tough. Every team is kind of spent with their pitching,” Clifford said. “At the same time, we gambled a bit and used our top-two guys Tuesday, about 50 pitches each, so they are in good shape.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him atmjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.
Visit http://lovedefinedbook.weebly.com for more information.
