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Coach Jon Mungle

MA prepares for playoffs

Coach Jon Mungle believes his Marshall Aca­demy baseball team is playoff-ready.

The Patriots received a first-round bye and will enter the Class AA state quarter-finals next week versus the winner of a playoff series between Tri-County Aca­demy and Winona Christian.

MA has won 11 straight district titles, but the Patriots remain in search of their first state championship on the baseball diamond.

“The big things are effort and focus,” said Mungle, in his second season at the helm of the Patriots. “Those are the two things I demand.

“I feel good about this team. This team is capable (of winning a state championship), and we all have that on our minds.”

Last season Marshall dropped two straight games to Canton Academy in the quarter-finals – a team that he said was “obviously better” than the Patriots.

“I believe we are a lot better than last year,” Mungle said. “I believe whoever beats us will have to play solid baseball.”

The Patriots enter the post-season with a 13-7 record.

“We played a tougher non-district schedule, and I think we matched up well against some quality teams,” he said.

Mungle likes the progress of his team in all three areas – hitting, pitching and defense.

“We’ve been swinging the bats good all year,” he said. “We just can’t try to do too much at the plate. Take a good approach and move the ball – use the whole field.

“Defensively, we have to make the routine plays. We’ve had one or two games where we were in a little bit of a funk defensively, but if we make a mistake, we just need to go on to the next play. Everybody knows their responsibility.”

Mungle also likes his pitching staff, with Peyton Taylor and Zane Looney leaned on the most this season.

“They are both fine-tuned and have good command,” he said.

The playoff mix will also include Wil Summerlin, Wesley Bolden and Jordan Bonds, plus possibly others who have contributed on the mound this season.

“We have to have everyone ready – as far as pitching goes,” Mungle said. “We may need them all.”

If the Pats win their first-round series, they could possibly get a rematch with Canton in the semi-finals the week of May 8.  Canton will face the Oak Hill Academy versus West Memphis (Ark.) Christian winner in the quarter-finals next week.

Holly Springs South Reporter

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