Baseball: Permian wants to get into habit of winning

The Permian Panthers learned some valuable lessons in 2007.

Now, coach Pete Southall wants to translate that into more success on the field.

Permian went 19-13-1 last season and qualified for the Class 5A playoffs for the first time since 2003.

“I’m basically wanting to establish a habit of going to the playoffs,” said Southall, who is beginning his fourth season at Permian. “It was nice to get in the playoffs last year, but we want to establish a habit of going to the playoffs here. Permian people expect excellence, and that’s what we’re trying to provide.”

Permian takes the first step toward that goal when the Panthers open the 2008 season against Amarillo Tascosa at 5 p.m. today at Lubbock Coronado’s O’Banion Field. Their home opener is Feb. 26 against Big Spring, and District 3-5A play starts March 11 at home against Midland High.

Pitcher-infielders Jerome Leija, Fabian Rivera and Daniel Gray lead a group of six lettermen.

Leija went 5-3 with a save as a sophomore to earn first-team all-district honors.

Rivera was a second-team all-district choice at first base after hitting .345 with 23 RBIs. He also 2-4 with a save.

Gray, who went 3-2 with three saves, picked up a win over district champion and state qualifier Midland Lee.

“We feel pitching depth is going to help us this year,” Southall said. “We feel comfortable that anywhere from five to seven guys can go out there and throw strikes and give us a chance to win. We still have to play defense behind them, but I think we can do that. Offensively, I think we’ll be a little better. Our team speed will be a little bit better.”

Outfielders Ryne Rice (.362, 15 RBI) and Taylor Beall and catcher Braden Ewell also return.

Shortstop Josh Ward, outfielder-pitcher Ryan Rumbaugh and third baseman-outfielder Andrew Bell are among the newcomers stepping into the lineup.

“I think the best thing we’ve got going for us right now is we’ve got a bunch of kids who have played together forever,” Southall said. “They know each other real well. I don’t have to coach relationships with this bunch. I can put them on the field and let them play, and they know what each other can do.

“We’ve got a good team. We don’t have the one or two guys who are surefire, can’t-miss prospects, but we’ve got some guys who can play college baseball and we’ve got a lot of guys who love to play the game. They play it full speed from the time they hit the field until it’s time to go home.”

Last year’s playoff run was short as Permian was swept in bi-district by Fort Worth Paschal, but Southall said the level at which the Panthers performed in that series showed the program was heading in the right direction.

“You don’t like to lose, but it gives you a tremendous amount of confidence to go against two Division I-caliber left-handed pitchers like that,” he said. “We don’t see that week in and week out in the district, and to see two of them and compete with them the way we did and have opportunities to win those games was big.

“Those were just two really good baseball games. I think that’s the way the game was meant to be played — you pitch and play defense and hit when people make mistakes. I think our kids did an admirable job of handling that, refocusing and coming back out here hungry this year. We intend to do better.”

PERMIAN ROSTER

No. Name Position B/T Class

1 Fabian Rivera 1B/P L/R Sr.

2 Braden Ewell C R/R Sr.

3 Taylor Beall OF R/R Sr.

4 Dustin Benton IF R/R Sr.

5 Ryne Rice P/OF R/R Sr.

6 Josh Ward SS R/R Sr.

7 Jerome Leija P/IF R/R Jr.

8 Trevor Adams C R/R Jr.

9 Landon Culp P/IF R/R Sr.

10 Daniel Gray P/IF R/R Sr.

11 Ryan Rumbaugh OF/P R/R Jr.

12 Clayton Emerson P/1B L/L Sr.

13 Jeff Metcalf C L/L Sr.

16 Steven Nichols 3B R/R Sr.

20 Andrew Bell 3B/OF R/R Jr.

Head Coach: Pete Southall

Assistant Coaches: Gary Weatherford, Ronnie Molina, Morgan Robinson

PERMIAN SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

Feb. 18 vs. Amarillo Tascosa at Lubbock 5 p.m.

Feb. 21-23 at Lake Cities Classic, Lewisville TBA

Feb. 26 Big Spring 4 p.m.

Feb. 28-March 1 at Tourn. of Champions, Midland TBA

March 6-8 at First Bank Classic, Lubbock TBA

March 11 Midland High* 4 p.m.

March 15 at Abilene High* Noon

March 17 Odessa High* 4:30 p.m.

March 18 at Midland Lee* 4:30 p.m.

March 20 San Angelo Central* 4:30 p.m.

March 25 at Abilene Cooper* 4:30 p.m.

March 28 at Lubbock Monterey 5 p.m.

April 1 at Midland High* 4:30 p.m.

April 5 Abilene High* Noon

April 8 at Odessa High* 4:30 p.m.

April 12 Midland Lee* Noon

April 15 at San Angelo Central* 4:30 p.m.

April 19 Abilene Cooper* Noon

*-District 3-5A game

Note: All home games played at McCanlies Field, Everglade Avenue and Loma Drive