FEATURE: An Experienced, Stellar Coaching Staff at the Second Baptist School

VYPE Staff
Sep 11, 2019, 8:50 pm
VYPE

Originally Appeared on VYPE

There are not many coaching staffs that can rival the one at the Second Baptist School.

A veteran head coach with more than 30 years of experience, a state champion running back at Katy and star at Nebraska, a Super Bowl champion, a captain from the University of Oklahoma and a plethora of experienced coaches fill the 12-man staff.

It's an impressive group.

"It gives us credibility when we're running out experience, plus energy, plus knowledge with these kids," Second Baptist School coach Terry Pirtle said about presenting an experienced coaching staff to players. "The {kids} buy into it. The coaches love building into the lives of our players."

Pirtle is entering his seventh season leading the Eagles, while 2019 will be his 31 st year roaming the sidelines.

Joining him in the 30-plus club when it comes to experience is William Leonard, who coaches defensive backs and is 34 years into the business. Another experienced coach is Keith Page.

Page is in his fourth year at the Second Baptist School, second as the defensive coordinator, but 2019 serves as his 18 th overall year coaching at the private school level in Houston.

Having that wealth of Houston-area private school knowledge available is invaluable.

"He knows the culture of every school in Houston," Pirtle said about Page. "He is able to help us understand who we're playing and how we're playing them. He does an unbelievable job of scheming and preparing our defense, which was one of the best in TAPPS last year. He's done a tremendous job."


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Houston drops the game to Arizona

D-backs outslug Greinke and Astros to take series opener

Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

With the series win over the Rangers by taking two of three games in the middle of the week, the Astros welcomed the Diamondbacks to Minute Maid Park for a three-game weekend series, Houston's final three regular-season home games. Here is how the opener unfolded:

Final Score: Diamondbacks 6, Astros 3.

Record: 25-26, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Zac Gallen (2-2, 3.00 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Luis Garcia (0-1, 2.53 ERA).

Houston scores first, but Arizona grabs a lead against Greinke

Houston would get on the board first on Friday night, with George Springer reaching base in the bottom of the first on an error, moving to second on a walk, then to third on a single, as the Astros loaded the bases with no out to threaten a big inning. Instead, they would come away with just one run, with Springer taking home on a wild pitch, grabbing the 1-0 lead, but leaving runs on the table.

They doubled their lead in the bottom of the third, getting a two-out RBI-double by Kyle Tucker to make it a 2-0 Houston lead. The D-backs responded in the top of the fourth, getting back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before a three-run homer by Kole Calhoun off of Zack Greinke would put Arizona in front, 3-2. Greinke would finish one more inning before Houston would move to their bullpen, striking out the side to bring his total to nine on the night, making the bad fourth inning the one blemish on his night. His final line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 89 P.

Astros tie it, but D-backs take the opener

George Springer would get Greinke off the hook in the bottom of the fifth, leading off the half-inning with a solo bomb to tie the game at 3-3. Luis Garcia was first out of Houston's bullpen and retired Arizona in order for a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth. He returned for the top of the seventh but would allow a leadoff single, RBI-triple, and wild pitch to bring in two runs. He would face two more batters, allowing a double and getting a strikeout, before Dusty Baker would come out to get him, now down 5-3.

Blake Taylor would make his return from the IL after Garcia, getting back-to-back outs to finish the inning. He continued on in the 5-3 game in the top of the eighth, but allowed a one-out solo homer to Calhoun, his second of the night and fourth RBI. That made it a 6-3 D-backs lead, which would go final as Houston would go scoreless after Springer's home run back in the fifth.

Up Next: The middle game of this three-game set will start Saturday at 6:10 PM Central. The pitching matchup will be Luke Weaver (1-7, 6.70 ERA) for Arizona and Cristian Javier (4-2, 3.22 ERA) for Houston.

astros recap astros vs diamondbacks mlb mlb recap zack greinke george springer kyle tucker kole calhoun astros

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