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CANYON — When you're one of the best teams in the country, you get everyone's best shot.
This is nothing new for Angelo State, though, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation and is coming off of four consecutive appearances in the Division II World Series. Competing in the Lone Star Conference, the Rams play a tough schedule naturally, which makes a stellar 32-7 season record even more impressive for Kevin Brooks' squad.
On Friday night, ASU had to withstand a strong outing on the road against West Texas A&M, a LSC foe who was ranked in the top 25 earlier this year. The Buffs' took a 3-0 lead early in the game and looked to be on the verge of taking the series' opener at multiple points, but each time WT had an opportunity to close the door on ASU, the Rams responded with a clutch hit or defensive stop.
The ability to make plays in the game's biggest moments and respond when the game is on the line is a skill that Brooks has been trying to teach his teams for years, and it paid off during game one in Canyon.
More: How former Dimmitt, Amarillo College baseball star Julius Carpio found niche at West Texas A&M
More: 'Long overdue': Former WT football coach Don Carthel inducted into Hall of Champions
More: Former Panhandle football standout Landyn Hack embracing transition from QB to DL at WTAMU
Down 3-2 in the seventh inning, Angelo State needed a big play to get back in the game, and that's exactly what the Rams got from Ethan Flodstrom.
The senior outfielder smashed a two-run homer over the fence in left field to give Angelo State its first lead of the game. After WT responded with a score to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, senior infielder Tayten Tredaway blasted a three-run homer over the right field fence to put the Rams ahead 7-4 in extra innings.
"It goes back to, every game is the biggest game we play," Tredaway said. "If you play 50 playoff games, when playoffs comes around, it's nothing different. Every game, we treat it like it's the game to go to the World Series, Super Regionals, whatever. They're all the same. Just having the ability to bounce back, just knowing we're the best offense in the country. Having that confidence, you can't ask for more."
Even after Tredaway's bomb, though, the Rams still had to fend off one last comeback effort from the Buffs in the bottom of the 10th inning. WT scored two runs and put runners on the corners all before Angelo State could record an out, triggering a pitching change from Brooks.
The decision turned out to be a good one, as senior right-hander Luke Olson struck out the first two batters he faced before forcing a pop out that would to end the game.
"The job Luke Olson did," Brooks said. "What Luke did right there was just amazing. ... When it came down to the brass taxes of it, we found a guy right there that came in and did an unbelievable job."
Part of the reason ASU has been so successful this season is because the team is battle tested.
After an incredible string of success in recent years, the Rams have played in a number of big games, and have experience in the biggest moments. This year, the team is once again on track to make a deep postseason run, and Brooks believes that Friday's matchup will be one that will be an asset to the team down the stretch.
"Being in those games right there helps," Brooks said. "Especially when you get a positive result, because you just believe you can do it again. It's a game that's going to make us better. And we still made some mistakes. We flinched a little bit, and you just can't do that but so proud of the guys. Just finding a way."
This mentality helped Brooks coach the Rams to a national title in 2023, and has put Angelo State in the mix as title contenders again this season. With multiple Division I transfers, a veteran head coach and experience in close games, ASU should be prepared for the postseason.
Brooks agreed that playing in tightly-contested games on the road will help his team down the stretch, but added that he doesn't want to rely on big plays and home run shots to win games.
"I think all these games, you learn something," Brooks said. "There's a lot of things we've got to get better at. Like I said, not flinch, in the moment, because we did, to allow them to get back in there."
First, though, the team will have to finish out its series against WTAMU at Wilder Park in Canyon. After the Rams took game one, the two teams play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon before closing the series on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: No. 3 Angelo State baseball learning to 'not flinch' against WTAMU
Continue reading...
This is nothing new for Angelo State, though, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation and is coming off of four consecutive appearances in the Division II World Series. Competing in the Lone Star Conference, the Rams play a tough schedule naturally, which makes a stellar 32-7 season record even more impressive for Kevin Brooks' squad.
On Friday night, ASU had to withstand a strong outing on the road against West Texas A&M, a LSC foe who was ranked in the top 25 earlier this year. The Buffs' took a 3-0 lead early in the game and looked to be on the verge of taking the series' opener at multiple points, but each time WT had an opportunity to close the door on ASU, the Rams responded with a clutch hit or defensive stop.
The ability to make plays in the game's biggest moments and respond when the game is on the line is a skill that Brooks has been trying to teach his teams for years, and it paid off during game one in Canyon.
More: How former Dimmitt, Amarillo College baseball star Julius Carpio found niche at West Texas A&M
More: 'Long overdue': Former WT football coach Don Carthel inducted into Hall of Champions
More: Former Panhandle football standout Landyn Hack embracing transition from QB to DL at WTAMU
Answering the call
Down 3-2 in the seventh inning, Angelo State needed a big play to get back in the game, and that's exactly what the Rams got from Ethan Flodstrom.
The senior outfielder smashed a two-run homer over the fence in left field to give Angelo State its first lead of the game. After WT responded with a score to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, senior infielder Tayten Tredaway blasted a three-run homer over the right field fence to put the Rams ahead 7-4 in extra innings.
"It goes back to, every game is the biggest game we play," Tredaway said. "If you play 50 playoff games, when playoffs comes around, it's nothing different. Every game, we treat it like it's the game to go to the World Series, Super Regionals, whatever. They're all the same. Just having the ability to bounce back, just knowing we're the best offense in the country. Having that confidence, you can't ask for more."
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Even after Tredaway's bomb, though, the Rams still had to fend off one last comeback effort from the Buffs in the bottom of the 10th inning. WT scored two runs and put runners on the corners all before Angelo State could record an out, triggering a pitching change from Brooks.
The decision turned out to be a good one, as senior right-hander Luke Olson struck out the first two batters he faced before forcing a pop out that would to end the game.
"The job Luke Olson did," Brooks said. "What Luke did right there was just amazing. ... When it came down to the brass taxes of it, we found a guy right there that came in and did an unbelievable job."
Finding a way to win
Part of the reason ASU has been so successful this season is because the team is battle tested.
After an incredible string of success in recent years, the Rams have played in a number of big games, and have experience in the biggest moments. This year, the team is once again on track to make a deep postseason run, and Brooks believes that Friday's matchup will be one that will be an asset to the team down the stretch.
"Being in those games right there helps," Brooks said. "Especially when you get a positive result, because you just believe you can do it again. It's a game that's going to make us better. And we still made some mistakes. We flinched a little bit, and you just can't do that but so proud of the guys. Just finding a way."
This mentality helped Brooks coach the Rams to a national title in 2023, and has put Angelo State in the mix as title contenders again this season. With multiple Division I transfers, a veteran head coach and experience in close games, ASU should be prepared for the postseason.
You must be registered for see images attach
Brooks agreed that playing in tightly-contested games on the road will help his team down the stretch, but added that he doesn't want to rely on big plays and home run shots to win games.
"I think all these games, you learn something," Brooks said. "There's a lot of things we've got to get better at. Like I said, not flinch, in the moment, because we did, to allow them to get back in there."
First, though, the team will have to finish out its series against WTAMU at Wilder Park in Canyon. After the Rams took game one, the two teams play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon before closing the series on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: No. 3 Angelo State baseball learning to 'not flinch' against WTAMU
Continue reading...
