Geneva School of Boerne made it a clean sweep over the Bandera baseball team Friday after the Eagles beat the Bulldogs for the second time in a week.
After winning at Bandera last Tuesday, 13-6, Geneva beat the Bulldogs again on Friday, this time in Boerne, 10-2.
Geneva improves to 6-1-1 overall and plays at TMI – Episcopal on Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
Bandera hit the ball well and recorded 7 hits, one less than Geneva with 8, but the Bulldogs also committed 5 errors in the game. Only 6 of Geneva’s runs were earned but even if those 4 unearned runs are taken away, the Eagles still would have won.
Geneva was up 4-0 by the second inning, but Bandera cut it in half at 4-2 with a pair of runs in the second, however, the Eagles got one of those runs back in the third to make it 5-2.
Geneva pulled away in the fourth with 4 more runs for the 9-2 lead and then added 1 more in the sixth.
Luke Valdez doubled, picked up an RBI and scored once, Guy George singled, drove in 2 runs and plated a run; George Vina finished with 2 singles, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI, Guy Koehler singled and Chaz Lutz singled, scored and pushed in a run.
Luke Valdez singled, scored and picked up an RBI, Hudson McNew scored twice; Colton Lutz singled, drove in a run and plated 2 runs; Shawn George singled and pushed in 2 runs, while Cannon Menn crossed home plate once.
Valdez picked up the win from the mound and went 4 innings. He gave up 5 hits, 2 runs, struck out 1 and walked 1.
Shawn George threw 2 innings and yielded a hit, no runs, fanned 1 and walked 1, while McNew tossed 1 frame, surrendered 1 hit, no runs, sat down 2 and didn’t walk a batter. guess the first time was a little bit of nervous excitement, but other than that it’s been pretty easy to work it out.”
More than anything, the senior said he’s just trying to enjoy the whole thing.
“It’s been a fun experience. My goal this year was to go out there and enjoy the process,” he said. “It’s been a blast and the guys have been super supportive of it.”
Even with all the added attention, the senior said he hasn’t changed up his routine and noted that it’s just business as usual when it’s his turn on the mound.
“My approach stays the same, I stick to a routine that I’ve developed for myself over the past year and it works well for me whether there are 1,000 people in the stands or if there’s nobody in the stands,” he said. “I go about my business the same way and it’s been paying off.”
Phillips had gained about 8 mph on his fastball since last year. As a freshman he said he threw 82 or 83 and as a sophomore he hit 90. Last year, Phillips registered at 93 and now he’s reached 101. He said there hasn’t been any real secret to gaining so much velocity.
“I added on weight each year and I cleaned up my mechanics,” he said. “I worked on getting more mobile and getting better movement on the mound so a combination of all those things has really helped.”
Boerne coach Bill Merrell has been around the game for a long time and said he realizes he’s probably seeing a once-in-a-lifetime kind of talent.
“I’ve never had a kid like this, I’ve had kids that can throw but not like this” the coach said. “He’s locked into doing what he needs to do. He works and all the kids seem to rally behind him.”
So what does it feel like to throw a ball 100 miles per hour?
“It just feels like I’m pitching,” Phillips said. “It doesn’t feel any different than when I used to throw 93 or now when I throw 100.”
The senior said his three main pitches are the fastball, the change up and the slider. Phillips added that he can throw a curve but is focused on the other three pitches.
“Those are my three main pitches. I used to throw curve balls and mix that in there but mostly just those three pitches,” he said. “Right now I’m trying to master each pitch, once I master all three then I’ll add in another pitch.”
Coach Merrell points out that it’s one thing to have a guy who can throw 100 miles per hour, but it’s another thing to have a guy who can catch a fastball coming in at 100+.
Phillips has that in Texas State signee Rashawn Galloway. The talented Galloway said he had to adjust to a pitch coming in that fast, but added that he’s gotten used to it.
Merrell said Galloway’s ability has allowed Phillips to continue throwing fastballs without taking off any speed.
“That’s the other part of the equation, this kid is throwing hard but we have a catcher behind him that’s catching that, which to me should be impressing a lot of those scouts and colleges,” the coach said. “It’s nice to have (Galloway) out here.”
Phillips said he’s thankful to have someone like Galloway behind the plate.
“It’s amazing, I’m super lucky,” he said. “I know there are a lot of pitchers that aren’t in the same situation as I am with the team behind me and the guy I have behind the plate.”
Phillips will likely get drafted this coming summer but the senior said he isn’t worried about that right now; he just wants to help the Greyhounds make it to Austin in June.
“There’s lots of conversations going on about that, but right now I’m in the high school grind and I’m trying to win a state championship,” he said. “I know there are going to be options when this ends so I’m talking it over with the family and whatever door opens, opens.”
Phillips is scheduled to be the starter for the Greyhounds every Tuesday once district play starts, including this Tuesday when Boerne opens league play at Greyhound Field against Bandera.
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