Marlins make playoffs
First time for baseball team ...
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Celebration time STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS Port Aransas High School Marlins baseball team members congratulate teammate Michael Jennings as he crosses homeplate after hitting a home run in a game against Runge High School on Saturday, April 19. The Marlins have made the baseball playoffs for the first time in the team's history.

The Port Aransas High School Marlins baseball team has made the playoffs for the first time in the program's history.

The Marlins clinched a play-off spot with an 11-10 squeaker of a victory over the Falls City Beavers on April 18 and a 12-1 stomping of Runge the next day.

Marlins coach Brian Flack said the team (14-4 overall, 6-4 in district) won more games than any Marlin team in the history of the school's program, which fielded its first team in spring 1999.

"I am overwhelmed with enthusiasm for what these kids have accomplished," Flack said. "They deserve every bit of recognition that they can get."

PAHS Principal Travis Longanecker said he's proud of the players and of Flack and Paul Patteson, the assistant coach.

Flack not only is a strong coach on the field, he helps his players academically, keeping close tabs on players' grades and making sure they are eligible to play, Longanecker said.

Flack even has tutored some of his players.

"I walked in on him one day in the coach's office, and he was sitting with (a player), and he was reading "Mac- beth" with him," Longanecker said.

"The sign of a really great coach, to me, is when they're effective on the field and in the classroom," Longanecker said. "And, at the high school, (Flack) was incredibly effective in both areas."

At press time, the Marlins still were waiting to see which team they would play against in the first round of the play-offs and when and where the game would be played.

"I believe we can compete with anyone in the play-offs, but I don't know what to expect, since we have never been there before," Flack said. "These kids have already met their goal for the season. Anything else is just gravy."

P.A. vs. Falls City

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	F
FC	1	0	0	1	2	2	4 10
PA	6	0	4	1	0	0	X	11

Hits: Marlins, 9; Beavers, 8. Errors: Marlins, 5; Beavers, 3. Marlin highlights: Matt White, 2-2, 3 runs, 1 rbi; Ryan Phillips, 2-4, 1 run, 1 rbi; Michael Jennings, 1-2, 1 run, 2 rbi. Winning pitcher: Ryan Phillips.

PA vs. Runge

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	F
Run	0	0	0	1	0	x	x	1
PA	0	7	4

Hits: Marlins, 13; Yellow Jackets, 2. Errors: Marlins, 1; Yellow jackets, 1. Marlin highlights: Michael Jennings, 3-3, 1 run, 1 HR, 3B, 1B; Zack Merrill, 2-3, 2 runs, 2B, 3B, 1run; 2-3 m, 2 runs, 2 rbi; Reid Copeland 1-3, 2 runs, 1-2, 1 run, 2 rbi; Ryan Phillips, 1-3, 1 rbi; Cody Collins, 1-3, 1 run, 1rbi; Kevin Sikes, 2-3; 2 runs, 2 rbi; Charley Walker, 1-2, 1 run, 1 rbi. Winning Pitcher: Charley Walker