Chargers, Raiders met in 2023, also in regional finals
The last time the Boerne Champion baseball team made it to the regional finals in 2023, they faced Leander Rouse. Fast forward three years later and the Chargers are in the regional finals and guess who they’re playing?
That’s right, it’s a rematch as the Chargers (33-6-1) and Raiders (35-4) meet again in the regional finals, although the format is a bit different since there is now a two-tier playoff system in each classification that wasn’t around back in 2023.
Either way, the two will meet this week in Buda Johnson, and the winner advances to the state semifinals.
The series is built around Champion’s graduation on Thursday. Game 1 is Wednesday at 6 p.m., Game 2 is Friday at 7 p.m., and a third game, if needed, is Saturday, 2 p.m.
This year’s series is in the fourth round because of the new playoff format, while their 2023 meeting was in the fifth round and the Chargers won that series after dropping the first game, 9-3.
Champion rallied to win the second game, 6-5, and then closed it out on in Game 3 at Wolff Stadium, 10-4, and played in the state semifinals and were defeated by Argyle, 5-2.
The only players that would be part of that series are seniors now, who were on the varsity as freshman.
At this point, the only teams left are elite, and this series features a battle of heavyweight contenders. Rouse enters the series ranked No. 1 in 5A, while the Chargers are No. 4.
Both were district champions and Chargers coach Ben Woodchick said they are very similar teams.
“They throw strikes, play good defense and are athletic and competitive,” he said. “They hit well 1 through 9 and are a lot like us.”
Rouse defeated Smithson Valley, Seguin and Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial and swept the first two rounds. The Raiders won Game 1 against CC Vets, but the Eagles took the second game, 5-2, to force a third game that Rouse won, 5-0.
Champion is coming off a sweep of La Joya Palmview and went three games with Buda Hays and Southwest in the previous two series. The Chargers won the first game, dropped Game 2 and closed it out in the third game through the first two rounds.
Chargers coach Ben Woodchick, who reached career win No. 200 against Palmview, said he likes how his team is playing as they enter the series.
“I think we’re playing our best ball at the right time,” he said.
Champion outscored Palmview 20-1 in the last series and knocked out 20 hits in their series with the Lobos.
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