Patriots go 2-2 in close contests
It was an up-and-down week for the Marshall Academy baseball team, two walk-off wins at home and then two losses on the road.
The first thriller of the week went into extra innings with Colt Carpenter getting the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth. MA knocked off West Union 1-0 Monday, March 30. The Eagles are defending Class 1A state champions in the Mississippi High School Activities Association and atop most polls again this season.
Gage Todd was on top of his game from the mound for the full eight innings. He gave up three hits, struck out two and walked two in recording the shutout victory.
Marshall had four hits, with the big one coming from the bat of Carpenter. The Patriots played error-free defense.
“It was a good team effort,” coach Dustin Skelton said. “It was fun to watch.” Next up was a three-game, District 1-3A series versus Lee Academy. In game one at Patriot Field Tuesday, March 31, the excitement of the week continued. Marshall rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh to down the Colts 9-8. The walk-off run scored when Avery Wilbanks hit into a fielder’s choice.
Reagan Allen had a big day at the plate, going two for three with three runs-batted-in. Cohen Lundine also had a pair of hits and stole two bases. Carpenter started on the mound, and Cash Redding threw five and one-third innings of relief.
Game two of a scheduled doubleheader in Holly Springs was rained out, so the final two contests in the series were played in Clarksdale Thursday.
The Patriots dropped both high-scoring games, 13-11 and 19-18. They racked up 33 hits in the two district clashes but came up short in both on the scoreboard.
Lee tallied six runs in the top of the sixth to go up 12-8 and hung on from there in the two-run win.
Leading MA from the plate was Wilbanks, who went three for four with three RBIs. Both Kyler Todd and G. Todd homered. Others with multiple hits were Jaxson Rikard, Lundine, Carpenter and Charlie Cross. Dom Green stole two bases.
The Patriots let a 15-10 lead slip away in game three of the series. The Colts rallied to win the high-scoring contest in the bottom of the eighth.
Redding turned in an outstanding performance from the plate in the loss. He was five for six with two home runs. He drove in four runs and scored four runs. Also adding multiple hits were K. Todd, Wilbanks, Lundine and G. Todd. Marshall earned 10 walks and swiped 10 bases.
The Colts connected for 22 hits in the game three victory and picked up six walks.
The Patriots (13-15 overall and 6-3 in district) were scheduled to visit Kirk Academy Tuesday of this week to start a three-game series versus the district rival Raiders. They will then host Kirk Thursday. On Friday, they will host Tupelo Christian Preparatory School. Next Tuesday, April 14, is Senior Night when MA hosts district opponent North Delta.