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Shiner St. Paul has waited a week for today’s TAPPS Class 2A state semifinal baseball game against Denton Calvary Academy. But the Cardinals had a much harder time waiting for their regional playoff game against Rockwall Christian.

St. Paul (23-8) also had a week between its 14-2 bi-district win over Katy Pope John XXIII and its 3-2 victory over Rockwall Christian, but the Cardinals had actually waited almost a year since losing to Rockwall Christian in last year’s semifinal.

“The big hurdle we had this year was Rockwall Christian,”first-year St. Paul coach Mark Noska said. “That was hanging over their heads all year. They couldn’t wait to play that game. It ended a stressful week in a good way.”

The Cardinals know very little about their opponent in the 10 a.m. semifinal at the Waco ISD Complex Field No. 2. The Lions advanced to the semifinal with a 3-2 regional win over Clear Lake Christian.

“We’re just going to try and play to our strengths,” Noska said. “We’re going to try and figure out their weaknesses and take advantage of them.”

St. Paul will be making its seventh appearance at the state tournament in the last eight years and won the state championship in 2003 and 2005. Noska attributes much of this year’s success to the Cardinals’ tough non-district schedule.

“I was looking at our schedule and we played a lot of good UIL and larger classification TAPPS teams that made the playoffs,”Noska said. “I was real pleased with the way we performed and took on the challenge. Hopefully, that will prepare us for what we see at this tournament.”

Noska said pitchers Blue Hybner, Kendall Kusak and Matthew Pohl are all likely to take the mound at some point during the state tournament.

A win over Denton Calvary would move St. Paul into the final, which is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. at Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, against the winner of the Brazosport Christian-Frisco Legacy semifinal.

“We had high expectations to begin with,” Noska said. “They always do here. I’m just glad to see them put in the effort to make it to where we are.”

Advocate-area playoff schedule

Class 4A Area

Bay City vs. Barbers Hill. Best-of-three at Alvin Manvel. Game 1, Today, 6 p.m.; Game 2, Friday, 7 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Calallen vs. Floresville. One game. Today, 7 p.m., Riverside Stadium, Victoria.

Class 3A Area

Cuero vs. Hidalgo. Best-of-three at Alice. Game 1, Friday, 7 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, 2 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, following Game 2.

Gonzales vs. Rio Hondo. Best-of-three at Odem. Game 1, Today, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, 5 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, following Game 2.

Class 2A Area

Hallettsville vs. Rogers. Best-of-three at Nelson Field, Austin. Game 1, Friday, 7 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, 4 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, following Game 2.

Edna vs. Salado. Best-of-three at Lockhart. Game 1, Today, 6 p.m.; Game 2, Friday, 6 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, Saturday, 6 p.m.

Weimar vs. Lexington. Best-of-three at Bastrop. Game 1, Today, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, Saturday, 3 p.m.

Refugio vs. Navarro. Best-of-three at Yoakum. Game 1, Today, 7:30 p.m.; Game 2, Friday, 5 p.m.; Game 3, if necessary, 30 minutes after Game 2.

Class 1A Area

Flatonia vs. Normangee. Best-of-three. Game 1, Today, 7:30 p.m., Rockdale; Game 2, Friday, 4 p.m., Pflugerville High; Game 3, if necessary, Saturday, 6 p.m., Pflugerville High.

Shiner vs. Anderson-Shiro. One game. Friday, 7:30 p.m., Sealy.

TAPPS Class 2A Semifinal

Shiner St. Paul vs. Denton Calvary Academy, Today, 10 a.m., Waco ISD No. 2.