Bobcats inspired by 2007's march to title

By TODD HVEEM
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
In 2007, the Cy-Fair Bobcats entered the baseball playoffs with dreams of winning a Class 5A state championship.
This year, the Bobcats enter the postseason with dreams or repeating their run to the 2007 state title.
This is a different bunch than my 2007 team,'' admitted Cy-Fair head coach Woody Champagne. We had some big kids on that 2007 team. This team is a fast team, but they are not huge by stature.
We might not have the best talent (this year),'' he added, but we might have the best team. All the kids help each other. I am anxious to see what happens.''
The Bobcats enter the playoffs with perhaps the best pitching trio in the Houston area in Trey Wall, Seth Harrison and Brandon King, who are a combined 20-2 on the season.
Harrison pitched a two-hitter in the Bobcats' recent 3-0 win over Cy Falls, while King allowed only one run in last week's 5-1 victory over Langham Creek.
The Bobcats needed a victory over Cy Ridge in their season-finale to earn at least a share of their sixth straight district championship.
The Cy Falls win was a big win,'' Champagne said of the victory that pulled Cy-Fair into a tie with Cy Falls for the 15-5A lead. It was the classic kind of playoff atmosphere. There was a big crowd and it was a big game for us.
When you have won or shared the district title five years in a row in any sport, the kids want to keep the tradition going,'' Champagne said. The kids take a lot of pride in that. It is part of what we are. The kids buy into it.''
Cy-Fair has been ranked among the top five teams in the Houston area the entire season. The Bobcats were 21-5 entering Friday's season-finale with Cy Ridge.
Our district has been very competitive this year, too,'' Champagne said. There are not really any pushovers. There were four teams competing for the final playoff spot. That says something.
That also is to our advantage,'' he added. We play a lot of good teams. It really creates depth in your pitching staff. Hopefully, that will carry us in the playoffs.''
But Champagne knows Region II is stacked with good teams.
What else is new,'' Champagne said. Klein and Tomball are playing great baseball. Cy Falls and Cy Woods have great teams. The Woodlands, Lufkin and College Park are good.
I am so excited about going back to Region III (in 2011),'' he added. I am not stupid. The coach up at Georgetown is just as excited about getting our district out of Region II.''
The Wildcats' baseball team is one of the few programs at Cy-Fair that has remained competitive since the opening of Cy Woods High School. The football and boys' basketball team both have struggled to remain competitive in the 10-team conference.
There are still certain areas of our community and attendance zones that continue to feed me baseball players,'' Champagne said. We have another good freshman group coming next year.''
Cy-Fair's freshman team was 18-4 this season, while the junior varsity was 18-3, Champagne said.
We keep getting a good run of kids,'' Champagne said. Plus, a high school game is not like a summer league or select game. The kids are pumped up about the game. The playoffs give these kids a chance to have a good time in front of their classmates. I think that is what baseball is all about.''