Belcher’s final season a memorable one

Belcher’s final season a memorable one Brian Smith Tue, 06/11/2024 - 7:13 pm news@jacksboronewspapers.com Blake Belcher can see into the future. Jacksboro’s baseball coach said he saw the success of the recently completed baseball season coming for quite a while. “About the last 10 years,” Belcher said. “Honestly, I saw this coming during last year’s playoffs and thought if the kids wouldcontinuetocome together, we would be pretty good.” Belcher has coached the seniors on this year’s ballclub since they were youngsters in youth baseball. The fact the players have been “baseball junkies” since they were little and have kept the same even keel attitude their entire lives helped lead them to the success. “These guys you just turn loose and play,” Belcher said. “This year they didn’t let everyone’s expectations get into their heads. They just played the game the way they knew how.” Belcher said the players have always been coachable. “It helps to have good parents,” Belcher said. “Teaching (the kids) what is important in life makes our job as coaches a whole lot easier.” Finishing 31-10-1 was helped by playing a tough schedule, which included tournaments against Class 4A and 5A teams. The non-district competition against Class 3A schools was even tougher, with Jacksboro losing 2-0 to both Gunter and defending state champion Boyd. In District 7-3A play, the Tigers finished third, behind Holliday and Iowa Park. In the playoffs, the Tigers swept Breckenridge in the first round, avenged a 2023 area round loss to Blanco and swept district rival Iowa Park in two games. In the regional semifinals, Jacksboro lost the opener to Shallowater 7-6 but took the final two games 7-5 and 4-2 in the best-of-three series to move on to the regional final for the first time in school history. Facing Brock in game one, the Tigers picked up a 5-1 win. A bid to the state tournament wasn’t to be as the Eagles won the final two games 7-2 and 9-3. Belcher announced after the team’s final game that he would be stepping down as head coach, allowing him the opportunity to see his son Lando play for the Cisco College Wranglers. He will be staying on as an assistant coach.