Friday's game could moved from Chancellor to Courtland due to field conditions.
FLS Newspaper Article
Cougars fired up to face Chargers
Date published: 3/31/2011
By Steve Franzello
Losing an all-state first baseman and seven members from a district championship team that won 20 games would be a big deal for most high school baseball teams.
But for Courtland and its coach, Tim Acors, the early part of this season has become a stepping stone for what could be yet another banner year.
Heading into tomorrow's Battlefield District showdown at unbeaten Chancellor, the Cougars had won five straight since dropping their opener to Riverbend, 8-4.
Several experienced seniors have fueled the resurgence, including pitcher Clay Keranen, who has posted two victories on the mound. On Tuesday, he belted two doubles in a 15-5 district win over Spotsylvania.
Two other seniors, pitcher Travis Weaver (2-0) and all-district catcher Jonathan Haught, have been impressive, as well. Haught's grand slam highlighted a 12-5 victory over Riverbend in the teams' second meeting this year.
"We're playing really well, one through nine," Acors said. "What I really like is our aggressiveness right now."
They'll need that aggressiveness against the Chargers, a team that is trying to make it back to the Region I playoffs for the third straight year.
Chancellor has won its first seven games, including yesterday's rain-shortened 9-4 win over Orange that featured Travis Frum's three-run homer.
Frum and several other senior returnees have sparked the current winning streak. Shortstop Steven Barlow, first baseman Mike Oster and outfielder Brent Gromer all have been standouts.
The Chargers have also gotten a lift from some underclassmen. Sophomore Chris Barlow's seventh-inning blast helped beat Massaponax, while freshman pitcher Jason Morgan has won all three of his starts.
"Hopefully, we can continue to compete," Chancellor coach Bob Oliver said. "Our guys need to put the ball on the bat, and we've been doing that pretty well so far."
Tomorrow's game is the first meeting of the season between the Chargers and the Cougars. Neither coach expects any problem getting his team ready to play.
"It doesn't matter what year it is," Acors said. "It's always a playoff-type atmosphere when we play them. Our players look forward to it."
The Cougars have dominated the rivalry lately, winning the last five games by a combined 49-13 margin. Last year, they rode the strong pitching of Keranen to an 11-1 victory in the district semifinals.
But the Chargers may be a team on a mission this time around.
"It's always a big game to our guys," Oliver said. "There's no need for a pep talk, especially this year. We haven't done well against them lately, and we want to change that."
--Steve Franzello
Date published: 3/31/2011
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