Another first within reach for Hampshire

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It took Hampshire coach Steve Ream nine years to finally lift the Whip-Purs to their first-ever regional title last season.

One year later, Ream has Hampshire on the brink of another breakthrough as the Whips can capture their first-ever sectional crown with a win today against Mendota in the championship game of the Byron Class 2A Sectional.

The postseason success is a long time coming for Ream, who suffered his fair share of heartbreaks while losing in regional title games three years in a row from 2004-06. However, the back-to-back playoff runs might be a sign of things to come for a young squad that has only two seniors on its roster.

"Last year I think a lot of the kids settled for the regional since it was the first one," Ream said. "We've talked about it ever since that point that once you do it the first time you want to do it again and then do more.

"That's really what our goal has been this year. We're at that point right now, and the kids are really excited and I think they've finally started to believe in themselves a little bit."

Despite the fact that a number of players returned from last year's team, Hampshire's relative youth still makes its late-season push all that much more impressive.

Sophomores Ryan Burke and Kent Larson are at the forefront of the youth movement as the Whips' top two pitchers. Larson (6-2) entered the sectional with a 1.17 ERA while Burke (5-2) had a 1.72 ERA.

"The fact that they're sophomores, I don't know how to explain that," Ream said. "I guess the nice thing is they are back for two more years after this one. They've done well so far, and we're going to keep riding their coattails."

Hampshire's current win streak of three games matches its longest of the season, and the Whips own a 17-13 record after winning eight of their 12 games since May 1.

While pitching and defense have been key throughout the year, Hampshire is especially benefitting from an improved attack at the plate.

Seven of the Whips' nine starters owned batting averages over .300 going into the sectional, with juniors Bo Price, Zach Crinigan and Tyler Bentley joining Burke as Hampshire's leading offensive threats.

"The biggest things that happened the last two or three weeks of the season is our hitting came around," Ream said. "It's nice to have consistency up and down the lineup."

Burke will likely get the nod on the mound today after pitching an inning of relief in Wednesday's semifinal win against Milledgeville.

A victory today would be another step in the right direction for a group of players who share Ream's focus of building off their success.

"Hopefully we can get a little dynasty started here," Crinigan said. "It would be nice to be winning regionals year after year, winning some sectionals and maybe even a couple state (titles) here and there."