CORPUS CHRISTI — When Terry Kennedy took over as the Missions manager in 2009, he had one simple philosophy — improve his players and the rest will take care of itself.

His plan has worked superbly thus far as the 2007 Texas League champs won the first-half South Division title, earning them a third straight trip to the playoffs.

“So far in just two months these guys have improved vastly, mainly in their own personal approach to the game,” said Kennedy, a four-time All-Star catcher in the Major Leagues. “They know now that they can compete at this level, and now they’re being more aggressive.”

Still, it did take the Double-A San Diego Padres affiliate some time to come to that realization as they held an above .500 mark only three times through 56 games.

Most notably, they fell five games behind the South Division leading Midland RockHounds with 14 remaining in the first-half of the season.

But the Missions rallied, finishing 11-3 to clinch the crown with a 39-31 overall record.

The most critical wins during their much-needed late season rally came when they captured three during a four-game road series against the RockHounds, pushing them one ahead of Midland with two to go.

The Missions wrapped up the first-half of their season with back-to-back extra-inning victories in Corpus Christi and ultimately clinched the South Division title with a RockHounds loss to Frisco on June 23.

“At the beginning of the year we had the talent, but now everything’s just kind of coming together,” pitcher Nathan Culp said about his team’s turnaround. “Our defense has been good, our offense has been a lot more consistent, our starting pitchers have been going deeper in the game, and our bullpen’s been money all year.”

And the numbers don’t lie either.

As of June 25, the Missions had the second best team batting average (.283) and the No. 3 ERA (4.00) in team pitching with first baseman Craig Cooper and right-hand pitcher Ernesto Frieri ranked among the league’s best.

Just at the start of the second half of the season, Cooper led the league in hits (94), had the third most RBI (52) and held the third best batting average (.355).

Frieri (7-3 with 3.00 ERA), meanwhile, was tied with three other pitchers for most victories shortly after the conclusion of the first-half of the season.

Together the duo were among seven players to represent the Missions in the Texas League All-Star Game, held July 1 at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.

“Guys are starting to really see the results on the field,” Cooper said. “If we can keep that up the rest of the season, I think we’ll just continue improving, and then hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll be able to make a good push.”

Team wants to keep the momentum
 
With a playoff spot well secured, the Missions are making plans on how to continue their late first-half season surge that carried them to the Texas League South Division title.

And if first baseman Craig Cooper had it his way, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“I think just getting back into the routine or not changing our routine would work,” Cooper said. “We’ve done it so far to this point, especially in the last month, and it’s really paid off.”
Indeed it has.

The Missions (2-4)  earned a playoff berth on its strong team pitching and hitting, which both ranked among the top three in the league.

Defensively, the team was just as solid.

So like the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

“I think the thing with baseball is you don’t try and change anything, you just keep doing what you’ve been doing and everything will kind of take care of itself,” pitcher Nathan Culp said.

Nevertheless, every team has room for improvement.

Missions manager Terry Kennedy said he’d like to see “a little bit better general infield play” from his players.

“We’re last in the league in turning double plays (up the middle),” he said. “I’d like to see the catchers throw a little better. They have improved, but our percentage isn’t very high. They’re working at it.”

The Missions also made a few roster moves, recently acquiring two players from the Padres’ Class A Lake Elsinore team.
Adding to already solid Missions team are left-handed pitcher Cory Luebke and third baseman Logan Forsythe.

In his 14 starts in Lake Elsinore, Luebke compiled an 8-2 record and 2.34 ERA while Forsythe (.322 batting average) racked up 30 RBI, 13 doubles, eight home runs and three triples.