Ira opens baseball playoffs vs. Baird Thursday

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  • Ira’s Karson Valentine delivers a pitch during a game earlier this season. The Bulldogs will play Baird in Game 1 of a best-of-three Region 1-1A quarterfinal series in Hawley at 7 p.m. Thursday.
    Ira’s Karson Valentine delivers a pitch during a game earlier this season. The Bulldogs will play Baird in Game 1 of a best-of-three Region 1-1A quarterfinal series in Hawley at 7 p.m. Thursday.
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It’s back to work for Ira, which will play Game 1 of a best-of-three Region 1-1A baseball quarterfinal series at 7 p.m. Thursday against Baird in Hawley.
Game 2 will be played at Morris Southall Field in Brownwood at 6 p.m. Friday. If a third game is necessary, it would be played at 8 p.m. Saturday in Brownwood.
Ira (17-2) won the District 6-2A title and received a first-round bye in the Class 1A playoffs. Baird (14-6) swept Gorman in a bi-district playoff round series.
“It was good to have the warm-up game against New Home last week,” Ira head coach Toby Goodwin said. “I’m happy to get that win, but it was more important to play. We had good practices this week and the players made adjustments. This time of year can be long and sometimes difficult for players to stay focused. The players understand that and showed me they are ready to start the playoffs.”
Sophomore Karson Valentine (9-0) pitched complete games in wins over Forsan and Borden County to conclude the regular season. Senior Kade Sanders (3-1) and sophomore Anthony Coy (4-0) pitched against New Home. Goodwin said all three pitchers will be needed during the playoff series.
“Karson pitched two great games at the end of the season,” Goodwin said. “Anthony and Kade had not pitched and my intent was to give them work in the warm-up game. Kade started and didn’t want to come out, but I told him Anthony needed to pitch, so we could be ready for the playoffs.”
Ira’s lineup, except on the mound, remained intact throughout the season.
“Our lineup has changed little throughout the season,” Goodwin said. “We will stick to it and hope to keep everything rolling. Those three guys will pitch, but Matthew (Brazil) is preparing to pitch in relief, if needed. I have not decided the pitching rotation.”
Goodwin said Baird will be a tough opponent.
“Baird wanted a series too and that showed they have depth,” he said. “They have athletes going to the state track meet. It’s going to be a good series. I remember watching them play at the Hamlin tournament.”
Goodwin said it’s important for his team to set the tone early.
“Game 1 will set the tone,” he said. “If you win, it puts you in a better spot for Game 2. But teams have lost the first game and come back and won a series.”
Valentine will be one of the team’s busiest athletes in the series because he is scheduled to compete in the 300-meter hurdles at the state track meet Saturday. 
“Our plan is to play Friday and let him go to Austin, get a good night’s sleep and be ready for the state track meet,” Goodwin said.
The Ira players must continue to work hard at the plate, Goodwin said.
“We can’t beat ourselves,” he said. “We need to hit better. The players worked hard on two-strike swings and making routine plays during this week’s practices. If we do that and with our pitching, I like our chances to win the series.”