Flames ready for tourney

• By CHRIS CHAPPLE
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: May 8, 2008 - Page: 8C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Why not now?

That’s the battle cry as Family Christian Academy enters unchartered territory today in Alexandria.

The Flames (15-8) meet West Monroe-based Claiborne Christian in a Class C semifinal that helps open the action in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A-B-C Baseball Tournament.

The 4 p.m. game at Bringhurst Park marks FCA’s first appearance in the state tournament.

Fourth-seeded FCA and No. 1 seed Claiborne Christian are both high-scoring teams, which should make the contest entertaining. Reeves plays Elizabeth in the other Class C semifinal set for 7 p.m. The two winners meet in the Class C title game scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday.

“We’re ready to go,” FCA coach Robin Herd said. “We’re prepared. We can’t wait to swing the bat. Nobody expects us to win, but we believe we can do it.”

Family Christian has scored nine or more runs in 15 games and won 14 of those contests. Claiborne has seven double-figure scoring games, including two in the playoffs.

While FCA has outscored its two playoff foes 35-10, Claiborne has a 41-2 advantage. Claiborne’s 30-1 regional victory over Phoenix and FCA’s 26-6 quarterfinal win over Calvin were impressive offensive displays. The Flames had 18 hits in that contest.

Herd sees today’s game as a key step for his growing program. Family Christian advanced to the quarterfinals every year since 2002 before reaching the semifinals for the first time this year. Interestingly, the Flames are a young team with seven starters in the ninth grade or below.

“I’m real proud of this team,” Herd said. “We’re down to 10 healthy players. We like our athletes to bloom at Family Christian and seven baseball guys were part of our Class C runner-up track team. That’s our best finish ever in track, so this could be our year in baseball, too.”

Herd said his team has transformed into a good defensive unit after early-season struggles. Proving that point, the Flames have turned three double plays in the playoffs.

“Our shortstop, Michael Glasper, has come a long way defensively,” Herd said. “He excels at sliding onto balls that are tough to get to and popping up and making the throw. Our centerfielder, Austin Prejean, has real good range.”

The Flames sport a team batting average of .385. Cody Landers leads the way with a .561 batting average with Glasper (.530) and Spencer Lightfoot (.485) not far behind.