Houston High baseball proves resilient in Region 8-4A semifinal win over Whitehaven

Ryan Mitchell stood at home plate marveling at his hit as it sailed out of Whitehaven’s baseball stadium. 

He didn’t make it to first until the ball hit the ground across the street.  

While everyone in the stadium was trying to figure out where exactly the ball landed, Mitchell didn’t take his eyes off of it until he saw it fall in the front yard of a house, parallel to the field.  

His hit provided the final two runs in a four-run third inning that helped Houston defeat Whitehaven 10-0 in the Region 8-4A semifinals on Monday night and solidified a spot in Wednesday’s region championship game and in Friday’s sectional game.  

"I feel like my home run gave us some momentum,” Mitchell said. “We just bounced back from there and kept putting up runs.” 

The inning was important for Houston (34-7) for a couple of reasons.  It not only gave junior pitcher Dean McCalla some breathing room, but it was the latest example of how resilient Houston’s young squad is.  

Assistant head coach Collins Day filled in for Lane McCarter in Monday’s game because McCarter was serving a one-game suspension after Houston violated a pitch-count rule during the district championship game against Collierville on May 12.  

The Mustangs didn’t look disturbed during the region semifinals and responded by playing like they normally do; something Day wasn’t surprised about, even from from a young team.  

BRIARCREST BASEBALL:With another region title, has Briarcrest baseball found momentum for another playoff run?

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES:Memphis area high school baseball and softball playoffs schedules, scores

PLAYERS TO WATCH:Here are 20 Memphis area baseball players to watch during the TSSAA playoffs

“We put a lot of stock in those young guys,” Day said. “I told Ryan Mitchell about two months ago, ‘You’re not a freshman anymore.’ And he understood that and he doesn’t play like one either.” 

 Day said Houston typically carries a younger team. So, it's no surprise the biggest pieces this season have been young stars.  

Along with Ryan Mitchell’s home run in the third inning, Donovan Mitchell added a two-run home run in the fifth. He also had a two-RBI single later in the third after Ryan’s home run.  

Ryan said the bond the team has  will help them return to the state tournament for the first time since the 2017 season. Regardless of Houston’s youth, there’s confidence this season. They not only ended the five-year drought away from Murfreesboro, but can get the school’s third state championship – first since 2005 – and return to the state championship game for the first time since 2014.  

The best part is regardless of what happens, most of the team will be back next year with more confidence.  

But next year doesn’t matter yet. The Mustangs are still playing and they are guaranteed to play at least through Friday.  

With a region championship on the line against Collierville on Wednesday, the Mustangs have their sights on putting the last Collierville game behind them.  

“I like our chances in any double-elimination tournament,” Day said. “Wednesday’s going to be a fun game. Whatever happens, happens. Either way, you've still gotta win Friday night and that’s what we’re trying to get past.  

“If we do that, I feel really good about our chances at winning it all.”

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.