Marshall takes two of three from Oak Hill Raiders

A no-doubter in extra innings led to a big Marshall Academy celebration about 9 p.m. Thursday.

Landon Houston launched a walk-off, two-run homer over the center field fence in the bottom of the ninth as the Patriots clinched the Region 1-4A series versus Oak Hill Academy.

“Landon stole the show,” coach Bruce Branch said. “It was a big moment. But the moment is never too big for him.”

It was his second homer of the three-hour game and seventh of the season. He had another two-run blast in the fifth.

The Patriots won 8-6 in the home game after splitting with the Raiders on the road Tuesday of last week.

Entering this week, MA stands at 8-1 in the district, while Oak Hill is 7-2 and Kirk Academy is 9-0. MA hosts Kirk in a huge three-game series this week.

Coach Branch was quick to point out that Houston wasn’t the only Patriot to step up bigtime in the extra-inning thriller Thursday.

“Our team as a whole was faced with adversity and rose up when we needed it the most,” he said. “There were so many big things that happened in that game, to be honest.”

Ninth grader Tucker Chumney was called on to pinch hit with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and the Patriots down a run.

“He’s been chomping at the bit for his opportunity, and he was in as big of a situation he could ever be in,” Branch said.

He reached on a ground ball to third base.

“He put the ball in play and kept the game going,” Branch said.

The next batter, Colton Atherton, singled up the middle and picked up a run-batted-in to tie the game and send it to the ninth.

Before Houston’s gamewinner in the ninth, Walker Sanders reached base on a walk.

Atherton finished with three hits, while Jordan Bonds capped off a strong series with two hits and an RBI. Also adding a hit each were Rusty Bolden, Sanders and Jack Smith. Sanders also stole a couple of bases.

Atherton closed the game on the mound and got the win. He pitched two and twothirds, striking out four, walking one and giving up one hit. Colton Foster started. He struck out five, walked four and gave up two hits. Bolden threw one and a third, striking out two, walking none and giving up three hits.

The Patriots dropped game one of the series, 4-3, on March 29 at West Point.

They led 2-1 but the Raiders took a two-run lead with a three-run third. MA got one in the top of the sixth.

MA had five hits, two from Bonds, including a double. Sanders hit a solo homer. Colton Neal and Houston singled.

Jackson Graves started, pitched two and a third and took the loss. He struck out four, walked three and gave up four hits. Bolden threw three and two thirds in relief, striking out six, walking none and giving up three hits.

Marshall then bounced back big-time in game two of the series, getting 13 hits in a 15-7 rout of the Raiders.

Bonds was the star of this show for the Patriots. He had three hits, including a homer and a double, and drove in five runs.

“Jordan had a big night,” Coach Branch said. “And a big series (with seven hits in the three games).” Houston was close behind with three hits and three RBIs. Sanders and Bolden each had a pair of hits. Atherton had a double and drove in two runs. Foster doubled and Jamie Groves singled in the eight-run win.

Bolden and Sanders each had four stolen bases and Atherton three.

Sanders was the winning pitcher. In four innings, he struck out five, walked three and gave up seven hits. Atherton tossed three innings in relief. He struck out five, walked one and gave up three hits.

“Oak Hill had a good game plan for us in the series,” Coach Branch said. “They battle-tested us to the end.

“They threw a lot of offspeed stuff at us and kept us off balance. And they didn’t strike out much ­ they really put the ball in play. They’re a very good team.”

MA (18-4 overall) committed seven errors in the series.

“We have to be better defensively,” Branch said.

The series against Kirk started Monday of this week with two games at home. The Patriots will then travel to Grenada Thursday.

“It’s going to be a gauntlet,” he said about the huge series. “We are having to play two of the better teams in the north in back-to-back weeks. Kirk will be a big challenge, but we are looking forward to it. I know our kids will be prepared.”