By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

Purdy coach Joshua Hughes isn’t surprised that Blue Eye is the Eagles’ sectional opponent in the MSHSAA Class 1 baseball playoffs.

“I told people before the season started that they would be outstanding,” Hughes said of the Bulldogs on Sunday. “They’re solid 1-through-9 in the batting order and they have two extraordinary pitchers.

“Definitely, Blue Eye will be the best team we’ve faced this season,” Hughes said. “We realize they will be a formidable opponent. We also believe we can win.”

Purdy (17-7), which reached the quarterfinals in 2007, entertains Blue Eye (15-3) at 5 p.m. today in the opening round.

Blue Eye coach John Gilley, although the Bulldogs have posted an 11-0 home win against Purdy this season, was a confident but realistic coach on the eve of facing the Eagles.

“We’re a balanced, good, all-around team. It’s been pitching as a strength one game and hitting or defense the next,” Gilley said. “But we each won a district championship. We aren’t taking anything for granted.”

Gilley, who’s in his sixth season at Blue Eye, said the Bulldogs were seeded No. 1 in the district tourney last season before losing in the semifinals to No. 3 Forsyth (which then lost to Purdy).

Blue Eye, which also plays a fall schedule, has lost to Forsyth, Strafford and Harrison (Ark.) in the spring season.

Gilley is blessed with three capable pitchers, he said, in (son) junior left-hander David Gilley and junior right-handers Trae Patton and Tyler Reagan.

Gilley, who’s 13-0 for the two seasons, has an ERA below 2.00 and is averaging 1.9 strikeouts an inning.

Coach Gilley said the Blue Eye offense — averaging .380 — has been sparked by hitters 3-5 in the order. They are senior third baseman Anthony Kelly (.609), junior first baseman Tyler Miller (.385) and sophomore shortstop Garett Chapman.

Kelly, Miller and sophomore right fielder Tim Reagan (Tyler’s cousin), who has seven homers, possess RBI totals in the 30s.

Hughes plans to give senior right-hander Derek Dailey the pitching assignment for Purdy. He’s 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA and three saves and has struck out 32 and walked 14 in 37 innings.