By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
Even if he wanted to, Northwood center fielder Tucker McCabe knows there wouldn’t be much point in him going home and complaining about the umpires if he felt like he’d gotten a bad call.
He’s got an umpire living at that same home.
Justin McCabe was an assistant coach at Northwood when Tucker was a freshman and sophomore and has now completed his second season as an umpire in the Shreveport Association.
So he’s got quite a few perspectives to offer his son.
“He used to talk to me from a coach’s perspective,” he says. “Now, he talks to me from an umpire’s perspective. The game’s the game; it doesn’t really change much, but I think he knows more about the game now since he’s been an umpire.”
Umpires are the last thing that Tucker McCabe and the Falcons are worried about as they head into this weekend’s quarterfinal playoff series against Acadiana.
Last week, the Falcons defeated Byrd in two games, earning a home berth in the quarterfinals.
If it seems as though the words “home berth in the quarterfinals” are familiar for Northwood, it’s because they are.
Perhaps just a little bit too familiar.
If the Falcons need any extra motivation, there is this: In 2022, they made it to the quarterfinals and lost. At home.
In 2023, they made it to the quarterfinals and lost. At home.
No one needs to remind the Falcons, most of whom have been on the roster the previous two years, of their recent history.
“It’s been two years in a row to get stuck here at this spot in the playoffs,” McCabe says. “It’s my last year here and we are going to play hard and get it done.”
It all starts with McCabe – literally.
Head coach Austin Alexander might as well have had printed lineup cards with the name “Tucker McCabe” already printed on them in the leadoff spot. He’s been there for three years and for good reason.
“He’s a plus runner and can change the game defensively with his baserunning,” Alexander says. “He can turn a single into a triple in three pitches. And he’s the best outfielder in our area.”
McCabe relishes his role as the leadoff hitter, mainly for what it can do for his teammates.
“I love the pressure of starting it off right,” he says. “I feel like everybody follows after that. If I get a hit, the dugout goes crazy and it sets the tone for the rest of our lineup. It just goes from there.”
There is a school of thought that the leadoff hitter should show patience in seeing as many pitches as possible in order to allow himself and his teammates to get a feel for the opposing pitcher.
Not McCabe.
“I come to attack,” he says. “If I get a first pitch fastball, I’m driving it. I don’t care (to see) what he has. I’m attacking.”
“He’s a team leader,” Alexander says. “He’s fiery and passionate about being successful, but not just for himself but for his teammates too. He’s a really good teammate.”
After winning District 1-4A with a 7-0 record, the Falcons had a week off to start the playoffs before defeating crosstown Byrd. Northwood, the No. 4 seed in the Division I Select bracket is 28-6 overall. The Falcons have won 10 in a row and 15 of the last 16.
“Our pitching has been lights out and our hitting has been on,” McCabe says. “We really don’t think about our opponent. We are here to play the game and do the best we can and hopefully what we want comes out happening.”
Game 1 of the best-of-three-series is Friday at 6 p.m. at Northwood. A series win would take Northwood to the state semifinals next week in Sulphur and would put an end to the quarterfinal road block that Falcons have faced.
“I have a good feeling about this weekend,” McCabe says.
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com