Why Houston baseball coach Lane McCarter thinks his team can replicate 2005 championship
MURFREESBORO - Houston baseball coach Lane McCarter knows how it feels to win a state championship, but he said the memories have gotten foggy over the past 17 years.
McCarter took over the program in 1999 and led the Mustangs to the Class AAA title in 2005. He said this year's team feels comparable to his championship team in its inexperience, but also its maturity.
"They're very similar in areas, like we started a sophomore second baseman and a sophomore third baseman. We've always had a mixture of young and old, and that's what makes us mature," McCarter said. "We're a very mature young team. They all have a role, and they know what their role is. It takes some luck, to be able to win the whole thing ... but I like our chances."
The Mustangs started two freshmen, two sophomores and two seniors against Powell in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament, and the composure of Houston's youngest players was apparent in its 2-0 victory on Tuesday.
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Both freshmen recorded the game-winning RBIs in the sixth inning. Georgia Tech commitment Ryan Mitchell crushed a triple that brought home Donovan Mitchell, and Chandler Day's double brought Ryan Mitchell home.
Houston's last state tournament appearance was in 2017, so no one on the current roster has experienced the Spring Fling. Knowing this, McCarter designed a schedule that included overnight travel, and the district tournament gave the team experience playing in elimination games.
"This is the fifth time we've traveled this year as a team because we're trying to get them used to staying in a hotel and being on your own a little bit, having some free time," he said. "We've talked about how this is a business trip. If they go out ... and they play around in the hotel, they're not gonna be ready to play ... when it matters."
Still, the Mustangs' first outing in Murfreesboro was not smooth sailing. Powell held them scoreless through five innings, and pitcher Connor Bryson gave up just three hits. When bats weren't connecting, McCarter leaned on one of his more experience athletes: junior pitcher Dean McCalla.
McCalla tossed a one-hitter, striking out 10 batters and giving up the lone single to Vanderbilt signee Logan Poteet. He said he has taken on a role of setting an example for the younger players, especially in high-pressure moments.
"It's just about making sure everybody is focused in on the game and having the energy that we need to be able to play and get going," he said. "I'm just taking it pitch by pitch and trying to keep everybody involved in the game, and this does a lot for our confidence."
Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TSSAA baseball: Why Lane McCarter believes Houston has title potential
