Baseball Finishes Season at State Tournament
During semifinals on May 12, the Warriors led gallantly for most of the game at 3-0, but the defending state champions, Houston St. Thomas, came back to win in eight innings, 4-3.
“It will always feel like that one got away,” head coach Johnny Isom said. “Despite it all, I am proud of the boys and the way they competed all season long.”
The Warriors earned the district and regional title in their first year in the biggest classification in TAPPS – a very impressive accomplishment.
To see the stories in the Denton Record Chronicle that appeared before state, please see below:
Baseball: Warriors face new challenge at state
Beginning today, Liberty Christian will make its fourth appearance in the TAPPS state baseball tournament in the past five years.
But this year, the Warriors will face a new test as they try for a state title in their first season at the TAPPS 5A classification.
Liberty (29-9-2) will take on defending champion Houston St. Thomas, which is coached by former Houston Astros standout Craig Biggio, in the state semifinals today in Waco.
“Moving up to 5A, you always wonder how you’re going to do,” said Liberty head coach Johnny Isom. “It’s a new challenge. I think our kids have responded in the right way.”
The Warriors won the TAPPS 4A state title in 2009. Last year, they were eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champ Corpus Christi John Paul.
Isom said he tried to prepare the Warriors for the rigors of TAPPS 5A play by increasing the quality of the nondistrict schedule.
That might have played a role in Liberty’s 11-1 mark in district play this season, and in the playoffs, where the Warriors have earned two straight shutouts, including a 7-0 win over district rival Plano John Paul II in the state quarterfinals on Monday.
Perhaps a bigger factor is the experience that runs throughout the Warriors’ roster. The team has seven seniors, including several players with at least one state tournament appearance under their belt.
“It’s probably the most talented team I’ve ever coached,” said Isom, who is in his 10th season at Liberty. “In terms of timing, this was a good year to make this transition.”
Liberty has thrived both on the mound and at the plate this season. Pitchers Chad Nack and Trevor Simms are each Division I signees, with UT-Arlington and Rice, respectively.
They have a combined 20-1 record this season, with Nack pitching each of the first two playoff games for the Warriors. Simms will start today, with Nack pitching the title game on Saturday if Liberty advances.
“I think they’re pretty even,” Isom said. “I think we’re pretty fortunate to have them both.”
Simms and Nack also hit in the heart of Liberty’s deep lineup, which includes Corey Dodd, a slugger who has accounted for five home runs in the Warriors’ past four games and 12 overall on the season.
“He’s just in a zone like I don’t think I’ve ever seen,” Isom said. “He’s just so strong, and when he squares the ball up, you know he’s going to do some damage.”
Dodd’s recent success has paralleled that of the Warriors as a team. Liberty has not allowed a run in its last 19 innings and has outscored its opponents 24-0 during that span.
“We’re coming together at the right time and we’ve really sharpened our skills,” said senior outfielder Bryce Garoutte. “We’ve got a lot of trust in our teammates.”
Nack said Liberty has a greater sense of confidence this season that stems from its increased depth, both in hitting and pitching. He said last year’s semifinal loss provides valuable experience and serves as motivation this season.
“Normally it’s been one part of the game in the past that’s been strong,” Nack said. “We’re good at pitching, hitting and defense this year.”
If Liberty wins today, it would face either Dallas Bishop Lynch or Houston St. Pius X in the state title game on Friday in Belton.
Isom is hopeful that Liberty has the experience and ability to emerge on top.
“I think there’s going to be butterflies, which is a good thing,” he said. “I think they’re hungry for it.”
Baseball Regional Champion, Heads to State
Liberty Christian advanced to the TAPPS 5A state tournament after shutting out Plano John Paul II 7-0 on Monday. 
“If you can get some runners on for Corey, Chad [Nack] and Trevor [Simms] in the middle of our order, good things are going to happen,” said Liberty head coach Johnny Isom. “Corey is on fire right now. Any time he comes up with runners, you feel good about it.”
Nack threw 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball while only allowing three hits with six strikeouts.
Nack also was also a part of a three-run third inning that started with Kyle Metzger’s double to left-center field. Metzger’s quick legs enabled him to stretch the hit into a double. Denton Martin reached on an error by John Paul II third baseman Jared Cook when a ground ball took a tough hop.
“I think the team mentality is we are going to be aggressive either in the box or definitely on the bases,” Isom said. “We win by it and we lose by it sometimes, but we are always going to put pressure on the other team, make them make throws, and see what happens.”
Dodd sent a single through the left side of the infield to put the Warriors ahead 1-0. That was when Nack was able to come through with a double to the gap in left-center field for another two runs.
Liberty’s defense was integral in helping to build momentum that the Warriors then turned into offensive production. The third inning ended in a double play started by a good play by Nack on a comebacker to the mound. He knocked down the ball with his glove, tossed to Martin for the first out, and Martin threw to first baseman Neal Bohannon to complete the double play.
“I was proud of what we did defensively because we haven’t turned a lot of double plays,” Isom said. “That’s what was really good to see about today because they were big. They had a couple scoring opportunities and we get the ground ball and turn it. It really changed the momentum in a couple innings.”
Nack also made an outstanding play to start the fifth inning after the second comebacker of the night ricocheted off his left foot to the right of pitching mound. Nack shook off the pain, scrambled to the ball, made a bare-handed grab and threw to first for the out.
“I think he got irritated that it hit him,” Isom said. “He just wanted to make sure he got him out. He got after that ball. It was a pretty impressive play. I think it hit him on the top of his foot, and once he saw it he was scrambling to get it. It was a pretty athletic play, but that’s kind of what he does.”
Nack then struck out Blair Niermeyer and Ryan Longo to end the inning.
That led to a four-run fifth inning helped by Dodd’s two-run homer to right-center field.
Nack kept the momentum going with a single and later reached third base on a stolen base and an error. Simms walked, and Bohannon sent a two-run single to center field to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors (29-9-2) will play Houston St. Thomas in the TAPPS 5A state semifinals in Waco at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and will send Trevor Simms to the mound to give them a chance to make it to the championship game.
“Every team is different,” Isom said. “This will be a new experience. I’m sure they are going to have butterflies. He’s 10-0 on the season and he’s hard to hit when he’s on. I like our chances with Trevor on the hill against anybody. He’s done a great job this year. I know he will go out there and compete.”
Liberty 7, Plano John Paul II 0
| John Paul II | 000 | 000 | 0 | – | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Liberty Christian | 003 | 040 | x | – | 7 | 9 | 1 |
WP – Chad Nack. LP – Nick Gillispie. 2B: LC – Chad Nack, Kyle Metzger. 3B: JP – Ryan Doanes. HR: LC – Corey Dodd. Records: John Paul II (19-12-1), Liberty (29-9-2).
Thank you to the Denton Record-Chronicle for the stories and picture.