MA Patriots second in state

A four-and-a-half-hour road trip proved to be a bumpy one for the Marshall Academy baseball team.

The Patriots, after winning game one of the Class 3A Midsouth Association of Independent Schools championship series Wednesday, lost backto-back games Friday at Riverfield Academy, 286 miles from home in Louisiana.

“We knew we had to go down there and win seven innings of baseball, and we just sputtered and couldn’t get it done,” coach Bruce Branch said. “The ball didn’t bounce our way.”

The Patriots finish 31-5 and second in the state.

“These guys toed the line and gave me all they had,” Branch said. “I couldn’t ask for anything else ­ what they’ve done for me and this coaching staff is phenomenal.”

In game one May 12 in Holly Springs, starting pitcher Jackson Graves gave up three hits and clean-up hitter Landon Houston lit the offensive fire as the Patriots beat the Raiders 51.

“Jackson was on top of his game,” Branch said. “Nerves were a little bit of a factor in the first inning, but he settled in well. He kept their hitters off balance all night.”

Graves, in six innings of work, struck out eight. He was relieved for an inning by Rusty Bolden, who struck out two.

“Rusty came in and gave them a good dose of off-speed stuff,” he said.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Houston launched a solo home run over the left field fence.

“That got us going offensively,” Branch said. “It sparked us, and we were able to do some things after that.”

The Patriots scored two in the fifth and two in the sixth. Bolden had a two-RBI single in the sixth.

Colton Atherton and Walker Sanders each added two hits for MA, both of Sanders’ being doubles, and Jamie Graves had a hit.

Branch stressed the Patriots’ excellent play defensively, mentioning a couple of spectacular catches, one by third baseman Colton Neal and another by first baseman Jordan Bonds.

“Our community really showed up to support us, and we appreciate that,” Branch said.

Game two of the series May 14 at Riverfield went to extra innings with the home squad winning 6-5 in the ninth.

MA had only three hits in the game — one each from Atherton, Devin Sanders and Jamie Graves.

“Offensively, it was a tough game for us, but the crazy thing is, we had opportunities to win the game,” Branch said. “It was unfortunate.”

The game was scoreless until the fifth. MA scored three in the top of that inning.

Jamie Graves had a big two-RBI hit to left field.

Riverfield scored one in its half of the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Raiders went up 5-3 on a grand slam with two outs.

“We were four outs away (needing one in the sixth and three in the seventh) from winning a state championship,” Branch said. “That’s how crazy the game of baseball is — how quickly it can turn.”

But the Patriots didn’t quit. Atherton’s two-RBI single to center field knotted the game at 5 in the top of the seventh.

It stayed tied until the bottom of the ninth, when the Raiders loaded the bases and got the game-winning hit.

MA used four pitchers — Houston, Hunter Peeks, Atherton and Bolden. Combined, they gave up nine hits and struck out 10.

In the nightcap, which started at almost 9 p.m., Marshall let an early lead evaporate and lost 13-6.

The Patriots got first-inning doubles from W. Sanders, Bonds and Houston to go up 30.

A controversial call also occurred in the first. Houston, hustling on a ground ball, was ejected from the game after a collision with the Riverfield first baseman.

“That was a big change of events for us,” Branch said. “That handcuffed us in a lot of ways the rest of the game, from both a defensive standpoint and of course at the plate. Anytime you have Landon at bat, you feel you’ve got a chance.”

Branch said he watched the game film, and there was nothing malicious on Houston’s part.

“He is one of the most mild-mannered kids I’ve ever known,” he said. “It was very unfortunate, and it hurt us, plus it gave them momentum to see one of our best players go out of the game.”

With the score 4-1, the Raiders struck for six in the top of the second and then tacked on three in the third to go up 10-4. They were in control the rest of the way.

Riverfield finished with 15 hits and Marshall with eight.

Neal had two. Getting one each were Atherton, W. Sanders, Bonds, Jack Smith, D. Sanders and Jamie Graves.

Peeks, Bonds and Bolden pitched for MA.

The field at Riverfield was lined with fans all around.

“There were probably 1,200 to 1,500 people at a high school baseball game,” Branch said. “It was great atmosphere.

“I told their coach that their guys seemed to play like they just wouldn’t be denied. They’re a senior-laden team (eight on the team with six who played). We will be in that situation (senior laden) next year.”

MA loses just one senior, D. Sanders, who Branch said was “extremely valuable” to the team’s success this year.

“With the talent we have returning, we certainly hope to get back where we left off Friday night,” he said.

He thanked the MA supporters who made nine hour round trip to Riverfield.

“That doesn’t go unnoticed by our baseball program and our school,” Branch said. “That support means a lot.

“It’s been fun to be have been a part of something so special. And I’m excited about the future of Marshall Academy baseball.”