‘Leaving a legacy’

Coach Bruce Branch, after a game one loss in the state title series, urged his Marshall Academy team to lock arms and pull together more than ever before.

His Patriots did just that, bouncing back to win two straight over Wayne Academy and claim the school’s first-ever state championship in baseball.

“Our backs were against the wall,” Branch said. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment. This group has left a legacy at Marshall Academy.”

The fight in his Class 4A Patriots was never more evident than in the decisive game three Saturday. They rallied from a six-run deficit to win 15-10 and launch a huge victory celebration on the home field.

“We were not going to let them beat us on our own turf,” said Branch, receiving hugs from the MA faithful.

The Jaguars stunned the Pats in the top of the first by going up 5-0.

“We spotted them five, but I knew we could score runs, too,” Branch said.

MA answered with two in the bottom of the first.

Wayne upped its advantage to six with three in the top of the second.

“I told them when it was 82 that if we could cut the lead in half, we would be in good shape,” Branch said.

His team did more than that — with six runners crossing the plate in the bottom of the second to tie the contest.

Each team scored one in the third, and then Wayne took a 10-9 lead in the top of the fourth.

Marshall snatched its first lead of the night in the bottom of the fifth. Colton Atherton and Rusty Bolden each drove in a run to make it 11-10. The Patriots would add two more in the inning.

Walker Sanders doubled in the bottom of the sixth to score Atherton and Bolden, and the lead was five going into Wayne’s last at-bat.

“We had some big hits in some big moments all night,” Branch said.

“We needed some insurance there in the sixth, and Walker really battled at the plate.”

“We had been keeping him tuned up and looking for the right moment to use him,” Branch said. “He accepted the challenge, and he finished it for us.”

Marshall had nine hits. Atherton contributed three and drove in a run. Sanders had two and four RBIs. Bolden also had a pair of hits and an RBI. Jack Smith had a hit and two RBIs. Colton Neal drove in a run with a single. Getting two RBIs each in were Jordan Bonds and Houston.

“Quality at-bats were a key to our success,” Branch said. MA used five pitchers – Matt Bourdon, Jackson Graves, Bolden, Atherton and Houston. They combined for nine strikeouts, seven walks and 10 hits.

“We used a lot of guys on the mound, but that’s what championship games are all about,” Branch said.

He thanked his 10 seniors for their leadership and commitment.

“They have set a standard for Marshall Academy baseball, and now all the underclassmen have to rise up and keep it going,” said Branch, whose team ended the state championship season with a 33-7 record.

Game 2

Down a game in the series Thursday at Waynes boro, the Patriots responded big-time with a 6-0 win over the Jags that sent the series back home for game three.

“We were not going to be denied, I’m just telling you,” Branch said. “Everybody in the lineup, from one to nine, had a hit. We swung the bats well.”

Atherton led the game off with a solid single and finished with three hits and an RBI.

“His shot up the middle (in the top of the first inning) set the tone,” Branch said.

Getting two hits each were Bolden, Bonds and Colton Foster. Bolden also drove in a run, and one of Bonds’ hits was a double.

Houston also contributed a double and two RBIs, and Jamie Graves drove in a run with a hit.

Neal, Sanders and Smith each had a single

Meanwhile, San ders turned in a stellar, complete-game showing from the mound. He struck out six, gave up only two hits and walked only three.

“He wanted the baseball in that situation,” Branch said. “He really kept them off balance all night long.”

MA was up 2-0 after two innings and tacked on two more runs in the top of the third and two in the sixth.

Game 1

The Patriots let a 1-0 lead through four innings slip away and lost game one 4-2 Tuesday, May 17, at home.

“We had our opportunities,” Branch said. “We only had four hits, and that’s not going to get the job done.”

He also said Wayne pitcher Luke Cooley was the “best guy we’ve seen all year.”

The senior lefty threw 118 pitches. He struck out 10 and walked just three.

Getting one hit each for Marshall in the loss were Atherton, Sanders, Houston and Bonds.

With the game tied at 1 after five innings, the Jaguars scored three un earned runs in the top of the sixth. MA answered with one in the bottom of the sixth on Houston’s RBI double to left-center field.

The seventh inning was scoreless.

Bourdon got the start for the Pats and threw 85 pitches in four and a third innings. He struck out seven, walked four and gave up four hits. Bolden tossed an inning, striking out three, walking two and giving up a hit. Atherton was next on the mound. In one and twothirds innings, he struck out two, walked none and gave up no hits.

Marshall left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth.

“Like I said, we had our chances,” Branch said.