Marshall sweeps district opponent

The Marshall Academy baseball team began District 1-4A play last week on the winning track.

The Patriots swept North Delta School in a three-game series.

“Getting the sweep is huge,” coach Bruce Branch said. “We might look back down the road and see where those wins could come into play (as far as the district championship).

“Our guys responded well. They showed up and played good baseball all week.” MA picked up a hard-fought 3-0 win in game one versus the Green Wave on Wednesday, March 9, at home.

“They threw a soft lefty at us who gave us fits,” Branch said. “But we did what we had to do to win the game.”

Landon Houston had two hits, a homer and a double, and he drove in two of the Patriots’ three runs. MA had six hits in the victory.

Houston also earned the pitching win. In five innings of work, he struck out eight, walked one and gave up only two hits.

“He kept them off balance,” Branch said.

Rusty Bolden threw two innings of relief. He struck out three, walked none and gave up no hits.

In the nightcap March 9 on the home field, Marshall cruised to a 15-0 win in just three innings.

The Patriots scored 10 in the second and five in the third.

Jamie Graves led a 14-hit MA attack. He connected for three hits and drove in four runs. Houston drilled a three-run homer, and Colton Atherton hit a two-run shot. Atherton totaled four RBIs for the game. Also adding a pair of hits were Jack Smith, with two RBIs, and Bolden, with one RBI.

Matt Bourdon got the win from the mound. He threw a no-hitter — striking out seven and walking none in three innings of work.

“Seven of his nine outs were strikeouts,” Branch said. “He’s a big addition to our team this year.

“And offensively, we swung the bats really well in this game. We put them away early.” The district series versus North Delta moved to Batesville Thursday night, and the Patriots left with a 14-1 win in five innings.

MA scored half of its runs in the top of the third.

Jordan Bonds had two of the Patriots’ seven hits on the road, and he drove in a run. Getting two RBIs each were

Walker Sanders and Colton Foster. Bolden had a triple.

Jackson Graves was the winning pitcher. In four innings on the mound, he struck out four, walked one and gave up four hits.

“Jackson looked good on the mound, and we got some timely hits and ran the bases well,” Branch said.

The Pats swiped seven bases.

Hayden Lundine threw an inning in relief of Graves. Lundine struck out two, walked one and gave up two hits.

The 4A Patriots closed the successful week on the diamond with a 14-3 rout at home Friday over Bayou Academy.

Houston hit a home run, his third of the week, and Atherton added another, his second of the week.

The MA offense produced 14 hits. Houston had two with five RBIs, Bolden two with three RBIs and Foster two with two RBIs. Smith added two hits.

Foster pitched two and onethird innings and struck out six. He was relieved by Bourdon and Atherton. The Colts had five hits.

The Patriots led 2-0 and then fell behind 3-2 in the top of the third. They answered with four in the fourth and eight in the fifth to end the game early.

“We did a good job of stringing together hits and making things happen,” Branch said. “Beating a good 5A Bayou team is big for us.

“Our pitching is coming along, and our bats are waking up. I think we’re right where we need to be at this point of the season.”

MA (9-1) played in the Battle on the Beach at Biloxi the first part of this week, which is Spring Break.

“Those games will be very challenging,” Branch said, “but we’re excited about the challenge and also bonding more as a team on the Spring Break trip.”

They visit Lee Academy (Clarksdale) for a district twin-bill on Tuesday of next week. They then host the Colts for a single game Thursday, March 24.