The Bryan Vikings are glad to see the Lufkin Panthers again. It means the Vikings are still alive in the playoffs, despite a scare for the District 13-5A champions in the opening round against Round Rock McNeil.

Bryan will open its area playoff series at Lufkin's historic Morris Frank Park at 7:30 p.m Thursday. Game 2 is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Bryan's Viking Field with Game 3 to follow, if necessary.

Lufkin closed out its playoff series in a dramatic doubleheader sweep last weekend. Klein Oak won Game 1 on Friday 9-8, but Lufkin rebounded in Saturday's Game 2 for a 2-1 victory. Then in the rubber match, John Tatum hit a game-winning, walkoff homer for a 4-2 victory to lift Lufkin into the area round.

Bryan, meanwhile, allowed 21 runs in three games but survived against Round Rock McNeil.

"McNeil was the best-hitting team I've seen this year," Bryan coach David Powers said.

Lufkin's lineup is not as loaded. Jonathan Fletcher's .400 average tops the Panthers. The senior outfielder has scored 40 runs. Tatum bats .275 and leads the team with 23 RBIs.

"They are a lot like us and will put a little pressure on you with the hit-and-run," Powers said. "They will squeeze, steal and double steal. They have a very aggressive coach, and they manufacture runs."

Lufkin's pitching depth was instrumental in the Panthers' bi-district victory. Four Lufkin pitchers have thrown at least 39 innings this season.

Marty Anderson, a 6-foot-1 senior righthander, is 5-5 with 68 strikeouts and a 3.74 earned run average. J.P. Clifton (3-3) leads the team in ERA at 2.17 but has struck out only 11 in 42 innings. Marcus Drake and Chase Greening are other top pitcher for the Panthers. Drake is the only left-hander.

Powers threw his top two pitchers, Sean Weatherford and Tyler Grygar, in Games 1 and 3, respectively, against McNeil. The Bryan coach is leaning toward a similar second-round approach. He says he may bring three different lineup cards for Thursday's game and make a decision before the game.

Weatherford is 8-1 with a 1.18 ERA and 99 strikeouts. Grygar is 10-0 with an 0.76 ERA and 100 strikeouts.

Bryan had to break out big bats to overcome some occasional shoddy fielding big-hitting McNeil. The Vikings hit three-run homers in each of the series' three games. Thomas Ponzio, one of eight Viking starters hitting over .300, spearheaded a Game 1 comeback with his three-run shot. Krey Bratsen, who hit his three-run homer in Game 3, leads Bryan with a .436 average. Weatherford is hitting .422.

In Class 4A, Brenham (24-7) will begin a best-of-3 area series against Houston Austin (11-11) at 7 p.m. Thursday with all games at Cypress Woods. Brenham is making its 25th consecutive playoff appearance.

In Class 2A, fifth-ranked Lexington will play a best-of-3 area series against Weimar in Bastrop beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Centerville (17-8-2) will play the Buna Cougars at New Caney High School in a best-of-3 series beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday.

In Class A, Anderson-Shiro will play a one-game area playoff against Shiner at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Sealy.

Normangee, which has baseball players competing at the state track meet, will face Flatonia (17-5-1) in a best-of-3 series beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Rockdale before shifting to Pflugerville for Games 2 and 3, if necessary.

Bremond will face Granger at Moody High School in a best-of-3 series beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday. Game 2 is set for 5 p.m. Friday with Game 3 to follow, if necessary.

The Fayetteville Lions (15-7) will face No. 10 Evadale, ranked 10th in Class A, at Conroe High School on Thursday, Friday and, if necessary, Saturday. Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. Thursday.

DIRECTIONS TO LUFKIN'S MORRIS FRANK PARK: Take Texas 21 East to Crockett. Turn right on Loop 304 around Crockett. Turn right on Texas 7 to Lufkin. Texas 7 turns into 103 just outside of Lufkin. At Loop 287, continue straight onto Spur 339/N. Raguet. Turn right onto Airport Ave., which runs into Morris Frank Park.

• David Campbell's e-mail address is david.campbell@theeagle.com.

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