Klein Collins coach respects winning tradition by adding to it - Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring/sports/article/Klein-Collins-coach-respects-winning-tradition-by-5367778.php
Klein Collins coach respects winning tradition by adding to it
Tiger coach adds to winning tradition
Published 2:43 pm, Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Klein Collins baseball head coach Chris Griffin during their scrimmage with Bellaire High School at Strake Jesuit Friday 2/14/14.
Klein Collins baseball head coach Chris Griffin before their scrimmage with Bellaire High School at Strake Jesuit Friday 2/14/14.
Chris Griffin knew he had his work cut out, and he was ready.
The former Klein Collins assistant replaced Miguel Carlos, who went to Kingwood, as the Tigers' head coach this year, placing him in charge of a program that's been a perennial playoff team since its inception.
The Tigers went to the regional finals his first year at the school, in 2010, and made the state finals in 2007.
"I was very respectful of the opportunity, and appreciative, and I understand it's a big deal in the community," Griffin said. "There's a legacy going on at Klein Collins, and we've got to keep it going."
So far, that's what Griffin and this year's Tigers are doing.
2013: 24-9 overall, 14-2 in District 13-5A
2014: District 13-5A member with Klein, Klein Forest, Klein Oak, Spring, Dekaney, Westfield, Kingwood and Atascocita.
Next up: The Tigers play Dekaney at 7 p.m. Friday at home.
Key players: P/IF Jake Jarvis, RF Jason Helms, C Jared Huber, SS Jacob Rodriguez, CF Joel Rodriguez
They went 24-9 overall, 14-2 in district in Carlos' final season at the helm, advancing to the regional semifinals, and they're on pace for another strong finish, taking an 8-1 record in District 13-5A into this week.
The Tigers were 14-5 overall.
They've carried on without three players who are playing in college: Second baseman Austin Finnigan (Alvin Community College), pitcher Lance Moszkowicz (Alvin) and first baseman/pitcher Michael Tanner (Galveston College).
The key is their experience, with 13 seniors on the roster and six starters back from last season, and the play of standout P/infielder Jake Jarvis.
The senior Texas A&M signee, who's also drawing pro interest, has seven home runs batting from the three-hole, continuing his career-long offensive success. He's also shutdown righthander on the mound, where he's 3-0, after a couple early no-decisions, with a 0.33 ERA in district.
Jarvis blanked Atascocita 1-0 two weeks ago and beat Spring 3-0 last Friday in a one-hit outing.
"He's 91-92 (mph), and can get it up to 93 every now and then, but he sits right about 90," Griffin said. "He throws a two-seam sinker that has a tremendous amount of movement. He's curveball/slider guy, and occasionally he'll work the change in.
"He's got great touch and feel of all of his pitches, and he puts it in there pretty well."
Collins also returned senior right fielder Jason Helms, who carries a big stick, senior catcher Jared Huber, who's their steadiest player, and senior pitcher/left fielder/first baseman Chris Suarez.
Helms, who signed with Alvin, has eight homers out of the cleanup spot. He also hit leadoff early in the year.
"It shows you what type of year he's having, because we've had some pretty talented guys come through here the last few years and he's already surpassed them (in home runs), in these last few years with these new bats," Griffin said.
Suarez is the No. 3 pitcher, behind Jarvis and junior No. 2 Austin Boyles, giving Collins a solid rotation.
The team also has received key contributions from senior backup catcher Ricky Urbano, who's hitting over .400 in district, and juniors Jacob and Joel Rodriguez, who play short and center field, respectively.
The Tigers' only setback in the first round of district was to Klein. They lost the lead on a shot to the left-center gap by the Bearkats' cleanup hitter on a 3-2 pitch, scoring runners from first and second.
Then they stranded a runners at third in the bottom of the seventh, falling 4-3.
"It was a tough loss to bounce back from, but the guys have done it," Griffin said. "We've reeled off five in a row (entering this week) since then.
The winning streak sent them to first after the first game of the second round, one game ahead of Kingwood and Atascocita and two up on Klein.
"We control our own destiny," Griffin said. "We're happy about that. But we're mainly focused on our team, our play.
"That's what our expectation level is based off of."
Griffin said they feel their best baseball is ahead of them. Great pitching and timely hitting have carried them this far, but he says they can be more consistent, one through nine, at the plate, and on defense.
They take on Dekaney on Friday at home before a big rematch with Klein on Tuesday, April 8.
"Definitely, at the beginning of the year, one of our goals was to win district, and then the other goal is to get to state," Griffin said. "That's what our goals are, but we've got a long way to go, so we'll see."
Klein Collins coach respects winning tradition by adding to it - Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring/sports/article/Klein-Collins-coach-respects-winning-tradition-by-5367778.php
Klein Collins coach respects winning tradition by adding to it
Tiger coach adds to winning tradition
Published 2:43 pm, Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Klein Collins baseball head coach Chris Griffin during their scrimmage with Bellaire High School at Strake Jesuit Friday 2/14/14.
Klein Collins baseball head coach Chris Griffin before their scrimmage with Bellaire High School at Strake Jesuit Friday 2/14/14.
Chris Griffin knew he had his work cut out, and he was ready.
The former Klein Collins assistant replaced Miguel Carlos, who went to Kingwood, as the Tigers' head coach this year, placing him in charge of a program that's been a perennial playoff team since its inception.
The Tigers went to the regional finals his first year at the school, in 2010, and made the state finals in 2007.
"I was very respectful of the opportunity, and appreciative, and I understand it's a big deal in the community," Griffin said. "There's a legacy going on at Klein Collins, and we've got to keep it going."
So far, that's what Griffin and this year's Tigers are doing.
2013: 24-9 overall, 14-2 in District 13-5A
2014: District 13-5A member with Klein, Klein Forest, Klein Oak, Spring, Dekaney, Westfield, Kingwood and Atascocita.
Next up: The Tigers play Dekaney at 7 p.m. Friday at home.
Key players: P/IF Jake Jarvis, RF Jason Helms, C Jared Huber, SS Jacob Rodriguez, CF Joel Rodriguez
They went 24-9 overall, 14-2 in district in Carlos' final season at the helm, advancing to the regional semifinals, and they're on pace for another strong finish, taking an 8-1 record in District 13-5A into this week.
The Tigers were 14-5 overall.
They've carried on without three players who are playing in college: Second baseman Austin Finnigan (Alvin Community College), pitcher Lance Moszkowicz (Alvin) and first baseman/pitcher Michael Tanner (Galveston College).
The key is their experience, with 13 seniors on the roster and six starters back from last season, and the play of standout P/infielder Jake Jarvis.
The senior Texas A&M signee, who's also drawing pro interest, has seven home runs batting from the three-hole, continuing his career-long offensive success. He's also shutdown righthander on the mound, where he's 3-0, after a couple early no-decisions, with a 0.33 ERA in district.
Jarvis blanked Atascocita 1-0 two weeks ago 
and beat Spring 3-0 last Friday in a one-hit outing.
"He's 91-92 (mph), and can get it up to 93 every now and then, but he sits right about 90," Griffin said. "He throws a two-seam sinker that has a tremendous amount of movement. He's curveball/slider guy, and occasionally he'll work the change in.
"He's got great touch and feel of all of his pitches, and he puts it in there pretty well."
Collins also returned senior right fielder Jason Helms, who carries a big stick, senior catcher Jared Huber, who's their steadiest player, and senior pitcher/left fielder/first baseman Chris Suarez.
Helms, who signed with Alvin, has eight homers out of the cleanup spot. He also hit leadoff early in the year.
"It shows you what type of year he's having, because we've had some pretty talented guys come through here the last few years and he's already surpassed them (in home runs), in these last few years with these new bats," Griffin said.
Suarez is the No. 3 pitcher, behind Jarvis and junior No. 2 Austin Boyles, giving Collins a solid rotation.
The team also has received key contributions from senior backup catcher Ricky Urbano, who's hitting over .400 in district, and juniors Jacob and Joel Rodriguez, who play short and center field, respectively.
The Tigers' only setback in the first round of district was to Klein. They lost the lead on a shot to the left-center gap by the Bearkats' cleanup hitter on a 3-2 pitch, scoring runners from first and second.
Then they stranded a runners at third in the bottom of the seventh, falling 4-3.
"It was a tough loss to bounce back from, but the guys have done it," Griffin said. "We've reeled off five in a row (entering this week) since then.
The winning streak sent them to first after the first game of the second round, one game ahead of Kingwood and Atascocita and two up on Klein.
"We control our own destiny," Griffin said. "We're happy about that. But we're mainly focused on our team, our play.
"That's what our expectation level is based off of."
Griffin said they feel their best baseball is ahead of them. Great pitching and timely hitting have carried them this far, but he says they can be more consistent, one through nine, at the plate, and on defense.
They take on Dekaney on Friday at home before a big rematch with Klein on Tuesday, April 8.
"Definitely, at the beginning of the year, one of our goals was to win district, and then the other goal is to get to state," Griffin said. "That's what our goals are, but we've got a long way to go, so we'll see."