Rudder's baseball team will attempt to make history this weekend against an Orangefield squad hoping to repeat the past.

The Rangers will play their first playoff game when they face third-ranked Orangefield in the opener of a best-of-3 area series at 7 p.m. Friday in Houston at the Baseball USA Complex.

In just its second season of varsity competition, Rudder (22-6) spent part of the year in the coaches association Top 10 and earned its playoff bid by finishing second in District 24-3A. The Rangers received a bye in the first round of the playoffs because there is no 23-3A.

"We knew way back in July that if some things went our way we could be pretty good," first-year coach James Ward said. "To be 22-6, I don't think I visualized that. Game after game we were just pounding the ball. The pitching came around in the middle of the season like I thought it would. The kids really believed and bought into the system, and here we are.

"You don't want to follow anybody's trail. You want to blaze one and let everybody follow you."

The Bobcats (24-2) saluted their trailblazers at the start of the season when the school celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1990 team. Led by future Texas A&M and major league pitcher Jeff Granger, that was the only Orangefield squad to reach the state tournament.

This year might be the Bobcats' best chance yet to return to state. Orangefield again has a star player who has signed with the Aggies, center fielder and left-handed pitcher Jace Statum. The Bobcats also feature catcher Jacob Felts, who has signed with Texas.

"They're solid from top to bottom," Ward said. "We'll find out what we're made of."

Rudder's roster consists mainly of juniors and sophomores, with one freshman working his way into the starting lineup.

"They're in the same situation we were in last year when we had predominantly juniors and sophomores," Orangefield coach Jeff Bennett said. "There's going to be some butterflies on both sides. I feel like our kids are more equipped to handle the expectations that come with the playoffs this year. They know what to expect."

Ward has embraced the underdog role, talking to his players about the United States hockey team's upset of the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics and Notre Dame's surprise victory that stopped the UCLA basketball dynasty's record 88-game winning streak in 1974.

"The kids feel very confident about what they can do, but they know it's going to be David against Goliath," Ward said.

Rudder slugged its way into the playoffs with a balanced lineup led by co-captains Kyle Danford and Will Johnson, along with Matt Fritsche and Blake Kopetsky. No. 8 hitter Tyler Matcek went 4 for 4 last week in a warm-up game against New Waverly. Junior Matt Smith will be Rudder's starting pitcher and face a dangerous lineup.

"It will be a great matchup hittingwise, because they hit the ball like we do," Ward said. "They're not afraid of any pitching."

Orangefield's only losses came on March 13, when they were beaten by Cameron and 4A Lumberton in the Bridge City tournament. Since then, the Bobcats have won 15 consecutive games.

"We joke all the time that, had it rained that day, we would still be undefeated," Bennett said. "I think that showed our kids that you've got to play every pitch, every out."

RUDDER BASEBALL

Class 3A Region III area round

Rudder (22-6) vs. Orangefield (24-2)

Baseball USA Complex, Houston

Game 1: 7 p.m. Friday

Game 2: 2 p.m. Saturday

Game 3 (if necessary); 30 minutes after Game 2

Next: The winner will play West Orange-Stark in the regional quarterfinal round