Mckinney vs. Poteet

By Brent Yarina
E-Mail Author | Read Blog
McKinneyNews.net Staff Writer
Saturday, May 12th 8:34pm

McKinney High had a sweet arrangement set up for next week's regional quarterfinals matchup against Mesquite Poteet. Poteet, however, wanted no part of it.

McKinney coach Jeremy Price said the Frisco RoughRiders were offering their state-of-the-art Dr Pepper Ballpark free of charge to both school districts for a best-of-3 series.

Well, McKinney got the best-of-3 series it wanted, but Poteet refused to agree to play the series at the Texas Rangers' Double-A affiliate's home.

"I wanted to do what was best for the kids," Price said. "They deserve to play at a place like that. [Poteet] didn't care about that.
McKinney vs. Mesquite Poteet
Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Dr Pepper Ballpark or Al Alford Field
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Poteet
Game 3: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Poteet (if necessary)
"Not only are they taking away from our kids, they're taking away from their kids."

Price said the two teams would have only been responsible for umpires and travel had they agreed to play at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

McKinney knocked off Longview Pine Tree, 4-1, on Saturday to sweep its area series and advance to play Poteet, the state's No. 2-ranked Class 4A team, which beat Kilgore on Friday in a winner-take-all game.

Poteet's coaching staff met with Price in McKinney's dugout immediately following the Lions' victory at Bronco Field. Price said he asked Poteet's staff if they could meet Sunday to discuss all the details, since Price and his assistants had spent the past two days traveling to and from Tyler.

Poteet refused and the two sides met at 5 p.m. Saturday. Price said the meeting lasted an hour-and-a-half and that former Poteet coach Teddy Nowell, who was fired two years ago, did all the negotiating for Poteet. Nowell's son, Teddy Jr., is Poteet's ace pitcher.

Price said Nowell refused to play at Dr Pepper Ballpark because it's a grass field like Al Alford Field, which he thought would give the Lions an advantage. Poteet plays its home games on artificial surface. So because Poteet agreed to play a best-of-3 series and McKinney wanted to avoid a potential coin flip, according to Price, Poteet demanded to have two home games.

"We had it all set up," Price said of playing at Dr Pepper Ballpark. "It was perfect. Bottom line is, they want to get us over there, where they are rowdy, loud and obnoxious."

Game 1 will be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday either at Dr Pepper Ballpark or Al Alford Field. Price said he wants to give his players the thrill of playing in a park as nice as the RoughRiders for at least one game. If the Lions can't get the field reserved, Price said, Game 1 will be played at Al Alford Field. Game 2 will be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Poteet; and Game 3, if necessary, will be played at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Poteet.