City Personals

Hank Wheeler of Newnan, Georgia, was the weekend guest of Kay and Laura Wheeler. He was here to attend the birthday party of his Great- Granddaughter, Delilah Bray.

A beautiful thing happened Saturday night at the Marshall Academy baseball field. The Patriots cinched the AAAA State Baseball Title with a final score of 15-10 against Wayne Academy from Waynesboro.

The Patriots took their home field Tuesday night against Wayne to start the best two out of three series. Needless to say, it was a hard fought battle, but Marshall came up with the short end of the stick meaning they would have to win Thursday night at Wayne Academy to force a third game.

The team loaded up Wednesday and traveled the four hours south to Waynesboro to prepare for their toughest challenge yet. We are talking about a team that has been led by the best, Bruce Branch, for four years. A team that has been together just as long with some amazing additions along the way. A team that has faced adversity, heartbreak and a lot of wins along the way. A team that was a fraction of an inch to winning the State Championship last year in the wiles of Louisiana. A team determined to win.

The Patriots jumped on pitch after pitch after pitch. They showed up and definitely showed out in south Mississippi shutting Wayne Academy out 6-0.

Everything happens for a reason. Although the Tuesday night loss was a hard pill to swallow for the Patriots and their fans, it led to the most magical night to ever happen under the lights at the Marshall Academy baseball field.

Game time was set at 6 p.m. Due to weather coming this direction, it was pushed back to 4 p.m. Fans started showing up early to set out their chairs or get their spots for the game. Word came Wayne Academy’s bus was not going to make it here until 4:30, as if that would make one hill of a beans to this group of Patriots. They were ready regardless.

The Jaguars struck first and struck hard, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. The Patriots had two runs come across home plate ending the first 2-5.

Subsequent innings did not fare so well for the Jaguars. They only scored five more total runs (three in the second, one in both the third and fourth and shut out the fifth, sixth and seventh) the rest of the game, leaving them with 10 total runs.

Jack Whaley Smith ripped the cover off the ball the second inning, driving in the tying RBI. It was on then with the Patriots having six players cross home plate.

Marshall put up seven more runs (one in the third, four in the fifth and two in the sixth) giving them a total of 15.

To Coach Branch and the Marshall Patriot baseball team, especially the seniors - thank you for a ride of a lifetime. A season that will never be forgotten. A season dedicated to a perfect little angel who left this world too soon but was represented every single game by her “brothers”, #JanieStrong