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Tag: Adam Foster

Georgetown Eagles Baseball

Written by Daniel Jones on . Posted in High School Baseball, TEXAS SPORTS.

The highly ranked team has proven experience, talent and mindset to make deep run in State Playoffs. (Editor Note. Article originally appeared Feb 19th 2019 Print Version. Updated edition for recent playoff activity)

BY DANIEL JONES

“Our main goal right now is really trying to build our team chemistry,” Georgetown High School’s head baseball coach Adam Foster said in early February, “and really focusing on energy and the process of trying to avoid getting wrapped up in being ranked fourth in the state” (as noted in txhighschoolbaseball.com’s preseason poll).

Nonetheless, he added that the program’s 2018 success garnered this ranking, when the Eagles went 32-11-1 overall (14-0 in District 18-5A) and made it to the fourth round of the playoffs, losing in the regional semi-finals. Nine players from that team graduated, but only six started. And building talented baseball players is a tradition at Georgetown High School: In the last 20 or so years, the program has developed several Division I and professional ballplayers, including Brewers closer Corey Knebel who played at UT.

In 2019, Georgetown has all the ingredients to brew up another fantastic season ‒ a lot of returning starters, experience, a lineup that has seen a lot of quality at-bats against some of the state’s best pitching, and a complete array of arms that comprise what coach Foster said is “probably the best pitching staff, top to bottom, in the state of Texas. No real superstars, but everybody’s got a role, and they’re really good at their role.” He said this year’s team still has to go out and prove their preseason ranking.

Coach Foster expects senior shortstop Cole Posey, who will play next year at Boise State, to be in the middle of the team’s lineup and have a “huge contribution.” A three-year starter at Georgetown, Posey last season hit .234. Senior catcher Wyatt Childress will be at the top of the lineup and should lead the team’s running game ‒ last year he had 30 stolen bases and two triples in 37 games while hitting .261. “He can really run,” coach Foster said. Of all returning players, senior third baseman Jeffrey David, expected to hit in the middle of the order, had the highest batting average at .322; he has committed to play next year at Texas A&M.

Coach Foster said if the Eagles’ offense can match its pitching, “it’s going to be a very special year.” Georgetown has a truly complete pitching staff returning for 2019, equipped with senior right-handed starters Grant Wood and Jack Brinley, both of whom throw in the upper 80s and have solid breaking balls, and also a stacked bullpen of guys capable of coming in at any time to get batters out. Wood, who will pitch next year at Blinn Junior College, went 6-2 last spring with a 2.38 ERA in 10 starts and 13 games pitched. Brinley was 5-1 with a 1.35 ERA in six starts. The bullpen consists of seniors Reese Grimes (18 games pitched, three saves and a 1.46 ERA), Brooks Hancock, lefties Jared Pierce and Noah Thompson (3-0, 3.15 ERA), Ryan Courtney and Jackson Sioson (2-1, 11 games pitched, 2.33 ERA), who is the team’s closer and lead the 2018 team with five saves.

After beginning the season with a series of scrimmages and competitive tournament games, Georgetown starts district play in mid-March. “Every year, at this time, everyone’s expectation is winning the last game of the season,” coach Foster said. “It’s completely obtainable and very possible right now. … This happens to be one of the best teams we’ve ever had. If we can get them to play for each other, I think the sky’s the limit with this bunch.”

NOTE: “I think the Georgetown and Williamson County area has some of the best ball players in all of Central Texas if you look at the teams making the state playoff’s right now ” Coach Foster told Texas Sports Monthly April 23rd 2019. Georgetown will face an old district rival in Rouse Raiders this Thursday at Leander Rouse. The Raiders are well coached by Chad Krempin and currently the 2019 District Champs at 19-8 and (12-0) district play.

The Eagles of Georgetown 28-2 (12-0) district will face the Raiders of Rouse this Thursday at 7pm for the first round of area High School playoffs!

Corey Knebel Living Field of Dreams

Written by Daniel Jones on . Posted in MLB.

Corey Knebel was somewhere around El Paso, on his way to spring training in Phoenix, when we finally caught up. He had just obliterated a large burger and fries, quite possibly easing the transition from the relative normalcy of the off-season to the demanding, high-stakes, though always thrilling, kickoff to baseball season.

And Knebel, 27, has a lot to be excited about: He was virtually unhittable in the playoffs last October, posting a .90 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 10 innings; this after he struggled to pitch at his best for much of the 2018 season following an April hamstring injury.

Although the didn’t quite match the same regular-season impact he had as an All-Star in 2017, in which he had a 1.78 ERA, 126 strikeouts and 39 saves in 45 opportunities, Knebel’s performance in the 2018 playoffs proved him to be one of most dominating closers in all of Major League Baseball. With help from his lights-out pitching, the Brewers made it to game seven of the National League Championship Series before the team lost to the Dodgers, just a game shy from competing in the World Series.

“To be honest, the comfort factor for me is ending the season like that. That was definitely the highlight of my career. I wanted to pitch in every game, and of course I couldn’t,” because he had a scheduled rest day, he said. “Now I’m able to move forward into this next season and start off strong just like I ended.”

EMBRACING THE PRESSURE

The 39th overall pick in the Major League Baseball 2013 draft by the Detroit Tigers, Knebel this January signed a one-year, $5.125 million contract extension with the Brewers, beginning his fifth season with the organization. When asked if the new contract takes some of the pressure off him to perform, the former UT closer said it doesn’t and that he also doesn’t want it to because “I really feed off the pressure.”

Knebel, a Leander-area resident and a graduate of Georgetown High School, approaches closing out big league games the same way he does with hunting. He starts getting his mind right and focused when he’s sitting up in the hunting blind when things are calm. “You’re excited, but you know you have to calm down or else you’re going to miss your shot,” he said. “Well, that’s exactly how I feel when I’m in the bullpen.”

But it’s big league hitters who more likely have to calm down when he’s called in to ensure a win. Knebel’s the one whose fastball occasionally tops out at 100 MPH, a pitch that makes his wicked breaking ball nearly impossible to hit when it’s placed well.

CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE AND SAGE ADVICE

Regarding his success in professional baseball, he gives credit to the countless coaches, teammates and family members who have helped guide and encourage him along the way, from his father to Georgetown High School head coach Adam Foster, former UT coach Skip Johnson, who is now head coach of Oklahoma University, and Brewers manager Craig Counsell. “These guys have been all the keys to my success. All have helped me and have been right there to lean on, especially when I went through my tough time last year.”

To his 12-year-old self, he would say, “Honestly, do not give up on your dreams. I never thought I’d be where I am today. It was just a dream that I had when I was younger.” He also discourages youngsters from throwing curve balls. Learn how to get guys out with your fastball and changeup, he said. It’s worked for him.