“I think we’ve taken that next step,” the first-year coach said. “My main goal coming into the season was to go into every series and compete and be in every game. We are now competing, we just need to go to the next level.”
After dropping the opener, 11-1, the Westerners won the second game of the series Friday, 6-5, in 10 innings, courtesy of a game-winning RBI from catcher Tanyon Reeves.
The Westerners (3-20) opened the third game of the series with a 10-0, as the first eight WTC batters crossed the plate. The team could not hold the lead, and fell, 11-10, before dropping the series finale, 15-10.
“It’s frustrating -- we scored more runs over two games than we ever have, and finally started hitting,” Hefflinger said. “Now we have to get over the hump. The won-loss column is not showing how we’ve progressed as a program.”
Hefflinger shuffled the lineup last week, and it has paid off offensively.
Outfielder Landon Thompson was switched to the top of the order, and responded by going 8-of-17 at Odessa.
The team was slated to play its first home game in six weeks today at 2:30 p.m. against Wayland Baptist with Galdino Pena getting the start, and Hefflinger feels getting back in friendly confines only can help.
“It’s going to be nice not having to get on the bus,” he said, adding that a win today would give the team momentum heading into Midland to play the defending conference champions this weekend.
Hefflinger also said he is excited about the Snyder Tournament coming to town this weekend, with some games scheduled to be played at WTC.
“It will give me a chance to see some of the kids,” he said. “This tournament is going to be good for the community, the college and the high school.”