by Samuel Abbas | sports editor
Following a sweep of Corpus Christi Carroll in round two of the playoffs, the Jags advanced into the 3rd round of the playoffs where they will look to de
![Sophomore Dalton Shuffield in position to field a ball at short.](https://myjagnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/IMG_0048-1bqzgzk-e1432232752625-255x383.jpg)
feat the O’Connor Panthers in a best of 3 series.
“It feels good to make it to the 3rd round. The team has been playing really well lately and we need to continue to play consistently and keep doing what we’ve been doing to win games,” Coach Gordon Gesell said.
The Jags have been on a hot streak lately sweeping their last two playoff series. With a 23-2-1 record, the O’Connor Panthers have been playing good recently as well. The series will be a close one to call but, the Jags believe they can prevail.
“I think we can beat O’Connor in this series, we have been playing well as a team and need to continue doing that in order to win these games. It will be a good series and I think we can win,” sophomore Dalton Shuffield said.
Baseball is a game where defense can control the pace of the game and ultimately decide the outcome of the game. In order to win, the Jags will need to play hard on defense as well as get hits in critical situations.
“It’s going to be a tough matchup against O’Connor but I think we match up with them very well and it’s gonna be over who gets the timely hits and who plays the best on defense,” Gesell said.
When two high level teams compete in a series, there is bound to be close games decided by a few runs and the loser’s mistakes. Though it will be a tight series decided by a few key plays, the Jags think they can rally to multiple victories and ultimately emerge as winners of the series.
“I feel pretty confident going into this series against O’Connor. They are a really good team but I think if we play our kind of baseball and make the right plays, we can walk out of this series as winners,” Shuffield said.
Thursday- Wolff Stadium 6 pm
Friday- Blossom Athletic Center 7 pm
Saturday- Wolff Stadium 11 am