MA Patriots up record to 16-3
The Marshall Academy Patriots kept on clicking versus district competition last week.
The MA baseball squad knocked off the Lee Academy Colts three times — a five-run win followed by a pair of 10-run victories.
The Patriots improved to 6-0 in District 1-4A play. They are facing another unbeaten team in the district, the Oak Hill Raiders, for three games this week.
“I think we played with more intensity last week against Lee,” coach Bruce Branch said. “But we still haven’t played our baseball as a whole.
“We’re excited about the challenge this week — both teams 6-0 in the district. It should make for a fun week of baseball.”
Jackson Graves turned in a strong pitching performance in Marshall’s 6-1 win over Lee in the first game of the series.
The senior gave up no hits in six innings of work and struck out eight. He walked two.
Graves was relieved in the seventh inning by Hayden Lundine, who struck out one, walked none and gave up a pair of hits.
The MA bats produced four hits, with Rusty Bolden getting two of those and a runbatted-in. Colton Atherton and Walker Sanders each had a hit. Atherton also had three stolen bases.
The Patriots left nine runners on base.
The Marshall Academy bats came alive in game two of the doubleheader Monday, March 21, at Clarksdale. The Pats had 16 hits in a 14-4 rout of the Colts.
Enjoying a four-hit game at the plate were both Sanders, with three RBIs, and Atherton, with one RBI. Jordan Bonds had a double and three RBIs in the win. Colton Neal had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Bolden drove in two runs, while Jack Smith added two hits, and Matt Bourdon and Colton Foster each had a hit.
MA’s big innings were the fourth and the seventh, scoring five runs in each.
Bourdon earned the pitching victory in four and a third innings of work. He struck out 11, walked three and gave up four hits. Bolden threw two and two thirds in relief, striking out five, issuing no walks and giving up no hits.
Game three of the series was played Thursday night at Marshall. This one ended in just four and half innings — a 10-0 win for the Patriots.
MA tallied three runs in the first, five in the second and two in the third.
Foster pitched the shutout. He struck out nine, walked four and gave up only one hit in five innings. He also had a pair of hits from the batter’s box.
Bonds had a double and drove in three runs. Atherton drilled a solo homer. Also getting a hit each in the Pats’ eight-hit attack were Bolden, Jace Reason, Sanders and Bourdon.
Marshall-Tunica
Bolden had a big game at the plate Saturday afternoon as the Patriots rolled past Tunica Academy 11-0 on the road. The senior had a triple and two doubles and drove in three runs.
Bonds also carried a hot bat. He had a pair of hits and also picked up three RBIs.
Smith and Atherton had two hits each, including a double apiece, while Jamie Graves drove in two runs with a double, and Foster had a hit and an RBI.
MA made a statement early with a four-run first inning. They kept adding on, ending the game with a three-run sixth.
Three Patriot pitchers combined for a one-hitter. Atherton started on the mound and got the win. He struck out two, walked none and gave up no hits. Jackson Graves followed and struck out three, walked none and gave up no hits. Tucker Chumney threw the last two innings. He struck out two, walked one and gave up one hit.
Marshall-Myrtle
Marshall closed the busy week on the diamond Satur - day night with another road win, this one 15-5 at public school Myrtle.
Once again the Patriots set the tone in the top of the first. Atherton led off with a home run over the left field fence. MA scored four and never looked back.
MA had 14 hits in the 10- run win –Bonds three hits and two RBIs; Sanders three, including a double, and one RBI; Smith two, including a double, and four RBIs; Bol den two, a triple and a double, and one RBI; Jamie Graves one hit and two RBIs; Atherton one and an RBI; Chumney one and an RBI; and Foster a hit.
Three Patriots pitched. Sanders started and got the victory. He struck out five, walked none and gave up two hits. Lundine followed. He struck out two, walked two and gave up two hits. Jamie Graves also pitched. He struck out two, walked one and gave up two hits.
The Patriots (16-3 overall and 6-0 in the district) traveled to West Point for a twin-bill versus Oak Hill Tuesday. They host the Raiders Thursday. They then host non-district foe Pillow Aca demy Saturday. Next Tues day, April 5, they will begin another crucial district series versus Kirk Academy, with a doubleheader at home.