Providence’s last postseason visit to Austin ended in questions.
The Pioneers dropped a lopsided sectional loss in last season’s Class 2A Austin Sectional and then were faced with who would fill the holes vacated from a 10-man senior class that departed after the 2008 season.
The only question on the minds of the Pioneers this time around as they return to Austin is just how far this postseaon run can continue.
After battering its way through three games at last week’s Providence Sectional, Providence will meet Evansville Mater Dei in Saturday’s 1 p.m. second semifinal at the Austin Regional. South Putnam and Eastern Greene will open the tournament at 11 a.m. with the two winners meeting in the final at 7:30 p.m.
“We have never this season had to question this team’s willingness to work as a whole toward the common goal,” said Pioneer coach Scott Hornung. “That has been the one constant, regardless of what has happened from the start of the year. We have had that working to our advantage.”
Despite nine losses in the regular season, the Pioneers (18-9) got clicking in the sectional round. Providence clubbed its three sectional foes by a combined score of 32-3, eclipsing 10 hits in each of contest.
“I don’t really know what exactly happened that made us so efficient offensively at sectional,” said Hornung. “We were taking some long swings early on in the year and we were swinging through the ball too many times. We’ve really tried to focus in on doing a better job of making contact and putting the ball into play.”
Hornung sees many similarities with his team and Mater Dei — which boasts an 18-12 record. Both schools play a schedule loaded with Class 4A and 3A foes. Mater Dei advanced to regional by beating the top-ranked team in Class 2A, Forest Park, 10-3 in its sectional final.
“They’re a lot like us in that some of their losses have come to bigger programs,” Hornung said. “There have been a lot of very good teams that they’ve played and they’ve beaten a handful of them. There is no doubt that they will be a quality opponent.”
The Wildcats bring with them two hurlers with earned-run averages below the 2.00 mark. The ace of the staff recently has been senior Joe Major, who tossed the sectional-clinching win over Forest Park on Saturday. Brent Weinzapfel has led Mater Dei at the plate on the season, batting .489 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs on the year.
“We’re going to be tested by their pitching staff, and our pitchers will have to be aggressive against their offense,” said Hornung. “This isn’t going to be a team that we can afford to give away at-bats or outs to. They’ll test us.”
Hornung said he hasn’t fully made up his mind on a starting pitcher although he expects to go with right-hander Jeffrey Schueler. The senior pitched the Pioneers to two of their three wins at sectional, giving up just one earned run in two starts.
“Obviously, Jeffrey is the logical guy to give the ball to. But he threw on Friday and again on Tuesday, so he would be making a second straight start on three days rest,” Hornung said. “But we know the reality is we’re going to need him at some point, so there’s a good chance he’ll go in the early game on Saturday.”
CLASS 2A AUSTIN REGIONAL
11 a.m. — Eastern Greene vs. South Putnam
1 p.m. — Providence vs. Evansville Mater Dei
7:30 p.m. — Final
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