Patriots enjoy successful summer


Thursday, July 24, 2008
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Patriots enjoy successful summer

Marshall Academy played Union County’s Junior Legion team Saturday and came away with a 7-3 win to end the summer season. The game was played at Myrtle High School

Hitting stars

Hunter Bolden was two for four with a home run and three runs-batted-in and scored three runs while playing with a strained hamstring. He also had a single in the fourth inning which plated two runs and gave the Patriots a 4-0 lead. The home run came off one of Mississippi’s top prospects, Jimel Judon from Myrtle High School, to lead off the top of the ninth.

“Hunter had an outstanding performance,” coach Johnny Ray said. “The home run off Judon was a no-doubter and just shows what he is capable of doing. Playing on a bad leg I’m sure inspired the rest of the team.”

Parker James was two for four with one RBI.

Caleb Byrd was one for four with two RBI and a sacrifice fly.

Jake Omedeo was two for four with a double and RBI.

MA’s three, four and five hitters (Bolden, Jake Omedeo and James) had six hits to spark the Patriots.

“There are no easy outs in our line-up,” Coach Ray said. “We can beat you so many ways. When one player has an off day, it is good to know you have several others who can pick up the slack.”

MA opened the scoring in the first inning as Bolden walked with two outs, Jake Omedeo reached on error and James and Byrd followed with run-scoring singles.

Pitching

Will Patton started the game and went five innings, allowing two runs, both earned. He walked three, allowed five hits and struck out four.

“Will worked out of some tight spots but made quality pitches when he had to,” Ray said. “He pitched five solid innings and gave us a chance. We also played pretty solid defense behind him.”

Patton upped his summer record to 5-1.

Harris Gholson followed Patton and turned in two and two-thirds innings of very solid relief work. He allowed one hit and one walk and struck out two.

“Harris did exactly what we needed him to do,” Ray said “He came in and threw strikes and kept them off base. Other than his fielding error which led to them scoring a run, this was probably his best outing of the summer.”

James earned his second save of the summer as he entered the game in the bottom of the eighth, in relief of Gholson. With runners on first and third he struck out the first batter he faced. James worked around a walk to the lead-off batter in the ninth to nail down the victory.

“Parker got some big outs for us at the end of the ball game, and sometimes that is tough for a high school kid to do,” Coach Ray said. “He has proved this summer that he can close it down at the end of the game. When you get into a tight conference game against Kirk or Clarksdale Lee it is good to know that he can get the job done.”

Summer Hitting Stats
(bold indicates led team)

• Tyler Childers – .554 batting average with 14 HR, 6 doubles and 25 RBI

• Parker James – .465 batting average, 5 doubles, 3 triples and 30 RBI

• Jake Omedeo – .462 batting average, 4 doubles and 25 RBI

• Caleb Byrd – .429 batting average

• Hunter Bolden – .420 batting average, 2 HR, 5 doubles, 18 RBI and 19 walks.

“This was a complete team effort,” Ray said. “We pitched well, defended well and came up with timely hits when we needed them.”

The Patriots finished the summer with a record of 16-7 and along the way played some very good competition that will benefit them going into next spring.

“This team will only get better. We haven’t had the first full team practice together,” he said. “Pretty much all we have done is show up and play games. I think they are primed for another strong season.”

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