Houston's baseball team set for AAA state tournament

MURFREESBORO — Win the last game.

It's not just a clever name for their Twitter feed; it's a way of life for the Houston baseball team. 

And even though the won-loss record isn't up to normal standards, the Mustangs are in a comfortable place, this week's Class AAA state baseball tournament at Spring Fling.

"I think we've won the last five region titles," said Houston coach Lane McCarter. "We've played that Friday (sectional) game at home. We may not have always won that game but we've done it.

"And once you feel like you've done it, you can visualize what it's going to take to get back there."

The Mustangs enter Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. opener at Oakland High against Stewarts Creek with a 25-16 record. Good for a lot of teams but for Houston, it's their most losses since 2008.

"We played a brutally tough schedule," McCarter said. "I think it took us some time to figure out our rotation, figure out our roles. We struggled ... but we kind of had a plan.

"I think from the word go, we told the players if they do everything we asked of them and bought in that we'd have a chance to be here. And they did."

McCarter points to the play of senior outfielders Terrell Tatum and Barrone Porter as two of the keys to his team's success. And both have made tremendous contributions during the team's late-season power surge.

Houston heads into the Stewarts Creek game on with eight straight victories, scoring eight or more runs in six of those. Porter hit two home runs in the 14-5 sectional victory over Dyer County last week while Tatum, who has signed with North Carolina State but could very well hear his name called in next month's draft, is riding a 27-game hitting streak.

"The numbers he's put up ... it's hard to believe but he's overachieved," said McCarter of Tatum. "We usually start three sophomores and a freshman and those top have set a great example at the top of the line-up."

Houston will be joined by Munford, which is making its first state tournament trip in 13 years. The Cougars (21-16) open against Brentwood in a 4 p.m. game at Siegel High.

Elsewhere, Covington (32-7) faces Christ Presbyterian Academy at 4 p.m. at Smyrna High in the Class AA tournament. Briarcrest (24-18) meets Chattanooga McCallie at 6:30 p.m. at Wilson Central in the Division 2-AA tournament.

And three of the final four in D2-A hail from Shelby County. Harding (22-19) tangles with University School of Jackson at 4 p.m. at Lavergne followed by ECS (28-4) and St. George's (25-13).

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.