Pillow Academy senior Daniel Allen is all too aware of the Mustangs' postseason struggles.
He's been a starter on the past two PA teams that went two and out in the state playoffs (against Parklane last year and Jackson Prep in 2007). He also pitched five games for the 2006 team that lost two straight to Hillcrest Christian in the postseason.
"I remember it all. I promise you that," said Allen. "That motivates us even more. We want to be the group that gets the program over the hump and to the next level."
The Mustangs, back-to-back North AAA Division I champs, are looking for their first playoff series win since 2000 this week against Madison-Ridgeland Academy, the No. 2 seed from the South.
The first game of the best-of-three series is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Pillow. The two team will play again at 6 p.m. Thursday at MRA. If a third game is necessary, it will be played at Pillow at 6 p.m. Friday.
The winner advances to the state AAA finals to face the winner of the Jackson Academy-Jackson Prep series.
MRA (27-5) finished in a tie for first place in the South with Jackson Prep at 14-4, but Prep got the tiebreaker advantage by winning its series against MRA.
Allen and junior Jared Meeks have been the top two pitchers this season for PA coach Bart Jenkins, who isn't tipping his hand on who will start Game 1.
"I've got to look at the scouting report and go from there," the third-year PA coach said. "It will likely be a game-time decision.
"I've got four guys who are really throwing well. I could see a scenario where we might use upwards of three pitchers in the first game."
Allen, a Meridian Community College signee, has been the Mustangs' ace. He is 9-2 with an ERA of 1.51 with 92 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 62 innings of work.
Jenkins said Meeks has an ERA of 1.95.
Whoever pitches will face a tough MRA lineup, according to Jenkins.
"From what I've got, MRA is a really good hitting team. They have a couple of power hitters," he explained. "Defensively, they're pretty good, with good speed in the outfield. They pitch it OK. I don't think they have a dominant pitcher but a lot of solid guys."
Offensively, the Mustangs struggled for most of the season but now seem to be catching fire at the plate.
Allen is the team's top hitter with a batting average of .582 with a team-best on-base percentage of .729. He also has a team-high 13 doubles to go with three home runs and 27 RBIs.
Clean-up hitter Sam Rustom is having a big senior season, hitting .490 with 11 doubles and a team-high 31 RBIs.
Freshman infielder Landon Taylor is third on the team with a .345 batting average.
Senior Spencer White, the Mustangs' leadoff batter, is hitting .290 with an on-base percentage of .450 and has 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts. He plays second base and left field.
