Ben Flora went into the 2008 postseason looking to make up for a disappointing end to last season.

Mission accomplished.

Flora was 5-0 in the playoffs with a 0.37 ERA. He earned the win in the state semifinal, and Plano West went on to win its first UIL state baseball title.

"Toward the end of the year last year, when the games really mattered, I wasn't playing my best ball, and they say that's when the great ones really turn it up," Flora said.

Flora turned it up all season, finishing 13-0. He was even better in the playoffs, when he lowered his ERA from his season average of 0.91.

"My mindset before those games was that I wanted to get a complete-game shutout," Flora said. "I didn't care how many walks or hits I gave up, I just wanted a complete-game shutout."

Flora didn't always achieve his goal, but two of his playoff wins were shutouts and the opponent scored only one run in each of two others.

The key for the left-handed Flora was pitching relaxed but in control. He could spot his fastball – once clocked as high as 88 mph – and throw his combination slider-curve for strikes, even when behind in the count.

"He can miss when he wants to," Plano West coach Kendall Clark said. "If he wants to miss three or four inches off the plate, he can. He never seems to catch the middle of the plate."

Flora's command gave Plano West confidence.

"We knew that with Ben going out there, he was going to shut them down," outfielder Jason Coats said. "When he goes out there, he brings intensity to the hill, and everybody feeds off that."

Notable: Flora was 13-0 with a 0.91 ERA and struck out 112 in 77 innings. In the playoffs, he was 5-0 with a 0.37 ERA, including a win in the state semifinal. He has signed with Texas Tech.

Did you know? Flora claims he might be the best sand volleyball player in the area. He plays regularly.

Notable: Clark guided Plano West through a 28-0 regular season and on to the Class 5A state title. Plano West finished 40-2 to become the first area team to win a UIL state title since 2002, and the first area 5A team to win a crown since 1993.

Did you know: Clark enjoys deep sea fishing. The largest fish he's caught is a cobia that weighed about 80 pounds.

Infielder, Jr.

Notable: Perrin, in his first year on varsity, helped lead Birdville to the Class 4A state semifinals. As Birdville's second baseman, he hit .413 with 10 home runs, 59 RBIs and 33 runs.

Did you know? Perrin is a tenor in the youth choir at his church.

Notable: Petersen, a Nebraska signee, was the highest drafted local high school player in 2008, picked in the fourth round by the Florida Marlins. He was 12-2 with a 1.03 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings. His team won the District 5-4A title. He had 16 strikeouts in a game against Wichita Falls and 14 vs. Sherman.

Did you know? He is an Eagle Scout.

Notable: An Oklahoma signee, Nowell was 12-0 with a 0.98 ERA, 92 strikeouts and four shutouts. He hit .450 with two home runs and 42 RBIs for District 10-4A champion Poteet. He was named 10-4A offensive MVP.

Did you know? Nowell went 28-1 over his junior and senior seasons. The loss came in the 2007 4A state title game.

Notable: The Arizona State signee was drafted in the 44th round by Colorado. He was 11-2 with a 0.50 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings. He hit .560 with 12 doubles, six triples, 11 homers and 62 RBIs. He led his team to the state semifinals and was first-team all-state in TAPPS 5A.

Did you know? He played on the 2007 USA Baseball junior national team.

Notable: In his first season of varsity baseball, Stripling went 14-0, although Carroll had to forfeit two of his wins for using an ineligible player. Stripling had a 1.70 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 107 innings, and he helped Carroll to a state runner-up finish in Class 5A.

Did you know? He played varsity basketball until suffering a broken leg in December.

Notable: Rollins was drafted in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. A Missouri signee, he was a first-team TAPPS 5A all-state selection and led his team to a state runner-up finish. Rollins was 10-2 with a 1.69 ERA, three saves and 103 strikeouts in 66 innings. He hit .609 with 12 doubles, two triples, one home run and 21 RBIs.

Did you know? Rollins was all-state as a pitcher for Class 3A Carthage last season .

Notable: Sorrells was named District 9-4A co-MVP. He hit .449 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 49 RBIs. His team was the 9-4A co-champion. He threw out 17 of 20 runners attempting to steal. He will play baseball for Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo.

Did you know? He has shot a 79 in golf.

Notable: Cain hit .486 with 16 doubles, three triples, nine homers and 45 RBIs for Waxahachie, the 4A state runner-up. Cain was 12-1 with a 0.78 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 81 innings. He was the District 15-4A pitcher of the year.

Did you know? Cain has committed to Texas. He had 19 strikeouts in a no-hitter against Red Oak this year.

Notable: The Baylor signee was drafted in the 46th round by San Francisco. He hit .431 with 12 doubles, five triples, 10 homers, 45 RBIs and 60 runs. He also was 7-2 with a 0.74 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings for a 4A regional semifinalist.

Did you know? Hainsfurther used to play lacrosse and football but now plays only baseball. He likes to hunt and fish.

Notable: A Texas signee, Loy was drafted in the 32nd round by the Baltimore Orioles. He was named District 10-5A MVP. He hit .527 with 17 doubles, four triples, 33 RBIs, 48 runs and 38 steals. He struck out only four times. Rowlett won the 10-5A title and reached the regional semifinals.

Did you know? Loy likes to hunt and fish. He has shot a nine-point buck.

Notable: Kiser, a Nebraska signee, was named District 9-5A MVP and helped Plano West win the 5A state title. He hit .432 with 17 doubles, four triples, one homer, 23 RBIs, 48 runs and 12 steals. He was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs in a 10-8 win over Southlake Carroll in the state final.

Did you know? Kiser is considering majoring in sports marketing.

Notable: An Arkansas signee, Gardner was drafted in the 13th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was the District 10-4A MVP. He hit .486 with 14 doubles, seven triples, 10 home runs, 51 RBIs and 52 runs.

Did you know? He led area 4A players in touchdown catches (21) in 2007.

Notable: Collins, a Nebraska signee, was named District 15-4A player of the year. He hit .458 with 13 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 35 RBIs, 51 runs and 22 steals for Waxahachie, the 4A state runner-up.

Did you know? Collins was the 2007 15-4A player of the year in football.

Notable: Coats was the 9-5A offensive player of the year and helped Plano West win the 5A state title. He will play baseball for TCU next year but will attend the school on an academic scholarship. He hit .429 with 19 doubles, three triples, nine homers, 48 RBIs and 46 runs.

Did you know? Coats played quarterback for Plano West in 2007.