Just a couple of key hits here or there, and the Angelina College Roadrunners could have finished Friday’s doubleheader against Weatherford College with a pair of wins.
Instead, the ‘Runners couldn’t come up with those hits, missing a few opportunities, in dropping both games of a doubleheader.
However, head coach Jeff Livin isn’t concerned. He’s getting solid pitching and defense, and he knows those missed chances are more a sign of his younger players trying to do a little too much early in the season.
“We’ve just got to learn to relax in those situations,” Livin said. “We’ve got some freshmen in some key spots, and we’re throwing them to the wolves. That’s the nature of junior college athletics. It’s hard to relax in those tough situations.
“We’ve got to learn to settle for what’s given to us right now. That’s part of maturing as a hitter: Learning what your pitch is. Right now, everyone’s eager to meet expectations early in the season, and we’re just trying to do a little too much offensively.”
Friday’s doubleheader lasted eight hours, with the opener running 11 innings before Weatherford pulled out a 9-5 win. In the nightcap, AC dropped a 3-2 decision, getting the potential tying and winning runs on board in the final at-bat before stranding those runners in a loss.
“We’re getting what we need from other areas,” Livin added. “The biggest thing right now is getting the offense on-track. We’ve got some good hitters in our lineup, and I know it’s just a matter of time before they figure things out.”
The Roadrunners will host Mountain View College in a Tuesday doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.
The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
