In years past, the baseball team’s first day of school meeting was familiar to players. The coaches set expectations for their postseason performance with the goal of making it past the first round of playoffs.
That first meeting looked much different than the others this year. Less than three months ago, the players were playing in the State Championship. They made school history as they battled for a state title against Grapevine in Round Rock on June 6. The boys lost, 9-5, but established themselves as a threat to contend with in upcoming years.
“We talked about having a target on our back this year,” head coach Chris Buechner said. “Everybody knows who we are now, so we can’t fly under the radar like in years past.”
With only four starters returning this season and growing expectations to make a return to Round Rock, the preseason workouts this year remained the same intensity.
Conditioning and competitive workouts have been a focus of the team’s preparations as the school year starts. The early start means being prepared once the season comes, especially for returning players. Through the first two weeks of school, the workout schedule for the team consisted of a timed conditioning test, followed by team tryouts.
“It shows who’s been working during the offseason to prepare for the season,” senior catcher Nathan Eveler said. “During the summer, we’re all playing, but we all had to work to get better for the season. I think we push each other just to better each other, so we don’t run out of gas early in the season.”
Eveler led the team in batting average (.351), slugging percentage (.527) and RBIs (43) last season. Eveler is one of two returning captains to the team. The other is pitcher Landon Coburn, who is coming off a record-breaking season.
Last year, Coburn broke the all-time pitching wins record (11), all-time innings pitched record (103.2) and the all-time games started record (17).
Along with Eveler and Coburn, the team returns three key seniors – left fielder Logan Bear, right fielder Evan Carswell and third baseman Ethan Brain. That group of seniors have worked to help the newcomers adapt to the intense preseason workouts.
“It helps us become closer because we’ve been running,” Coburn said. “But when you’re running with all your boys, it helps get through it.”
Athletes on the team have credited the “brotherhood” that has developed for most of the team’s successes. This was prevalent last year with the tough schedule the team faced to meet their ultimate goal.
One of the biggest obstacles the team faced last season was against Brenham (19-12-1) in the first round of playoffs. Kingwood Park had not made it past the first round of playoffs since 2018, so eliminating Brenham in two games was like a weight being lifted, Buechner said.
The Panthers carried the confidence from that game to reach unprecedented levels. They finished the season 34-10-1 overall with a District Champion title and a State-runner up title. They finished with a 10-3 postseason record.
“The playoff run was unbelievable,” Buechner said. “Every game we played in, the score was close and included ups and downs along the way. Each week that we won, you don’t have much time to soak it in, as you are already preparing for the next opponent.”
The rigorous postseason schedule was something that taught the returners what it takes to be successful in the biggest moments. The physical and mental toughness they gained will be crucial for this year.
“We know what we’re supposed to do and what we’re trying to do,” Coburn said. “Being there, going all over the state, it helps just to know what it takes to keep going.”
