Playoffs: MA sweeps Colts

The bats did the talking for Marshall Academy in round two of the Class 3A State Baseball Playoffs.

The Patriots racked up 23 hits and scored 19 runs in a two-game sweep of Lee Academy.

“We certainly swung the bats well and competed well at the plate,” coach Bruce Branch said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of where we are as a team. Seeing this team grow to where they are now, it’s a testament to all the hard worked they’ve put in for us.”

Next up the Patriots (28-2) will face District 1-3A rival Kirk Academy this week in the north state finals. The winner advances to the state championship series next week against either Wayne Academy or Riverfield Academy (La.), which play for the south half title.

“It’s supposed to be this way ­ the two best teams in the north are here,” he said. “It’s going to be exciting.”

The Marshall versus Lee playoff series last week unfolded how Branch expected.

“I knew Lee would be a challenge for us,” he said. “They play hard for Coach McKnight, and he had them ready to play.”

MA took leads in both games, only to see the Colts battle back to tie and then MA bounce back for the wins.

“You couldn’t draw it up any better,” Branch said.

The Patriots unloaded the hot bats in Clarksdale on Tuesday, April 27, getting 13 hits in an 8-7 win.

The Patriots led 5-1 after two innings. Lee scored four in the bottom of the third to tie the contest at 5, and then it was 6-6 entering the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, MA got singles from Colton Atherton, Rusty Bolden and Landon Houston. Atherton and Houston each had a run-batted-in. The visiting squad went up 8-6.

The Colts cut their deficit to one in the bottom of the sixth.

Neither team scored in the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Marshall relief pitcher Bolden recorded a strikeout before getting Lee to ground into a game-ending double play.

Three Patriots — Houston, Jack Smith and Atherton had three hits each. Houston drove in three runs. One of Atherton’s hits was a double.

Walker Sanders had two hits and three RBIs.

Getting one hit each were Jamie Graves and Bolden.

Houston started on the mound for the Patriots. He struck out three, walked two and gave up seven hits. Hunter Peeks followed. He pitched two and two-thirds — striking out two, walking three and giving up one hit. Bolden then tossed one and one-third — striking out one, walking none and giving up no hits.

“It was good to get that game one under our belt,” Branch said. “We used more pitching than we wanted, but it is what it is. We found a way to win, and that’s all that matters.”

The story was much the same in game two Wednesday, April 28, at home. The Patriots overcame a Lee rally and won 11-5.

MA scored four in the bottom of the third. Bonds had the big blow, a double off the center-field wall that scored Sanders, who had singled, and Houston, who had walked.

After the Colts tied the game in the top of the fifth, the Patriots answered with five in the bottom.

Bolden and W. Sanders each singled. Houston’s single scored Bolden. Sanders scored on a passed ball. Smith’s hard hit to left field sent Houston home. Then Devin Sanders, the only senior of the MA squad, crushed a two-run homer over the left-field fence.

Marshall scored two more runs in the sixth on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice.

Lee scored one in the top of the seventh, before Bolden closed the door from the mound.

Neal and W. Sanders each had two hits. Getting one hit each were Atherton, Bolden, Houston, Bonds, Smith and D. Sanders.

“We had some big hits from a lot of people,” Branch said. “Jordan had struggled a bit in game one of the series, but he came up with a big hit at a big time in the game. And I couldn’t be happier for Devin Sanders; his home run broke their back.”

Jackson Graves started on the mound for MA. In four and two-thirds, he struck out three, walked two and gave up three hits. Bolden threw two and one-third in relief — striking out one, walking none and giving up four hits.

“Jackson set the tone early; he was on top of his game,” Branch said. “Then I thought he got a little fatigued — it was our hottest day of the year. Rusty came in, like he did the day before, and threw strikes; he did his job.”

MA went 5-0 against the district foe Colts this season, including three wins in the regular season.

The Patriots were scheduled to travel to Grenada on Monday for game one of the north title series versus Kirk. They will host the Raiders Wednesday at 5 p.m. For game two and then game three (if needed).

“It’s two teams that are pretty equal,” Branch said. “We have to set the tone and compete. It’s our goal to play for a state championship next week. So, here we are, and we are going to have to beat a very good Kirk team to get where we want to be.”

MA swept Kirk in a three-game, regular-season series 5-2, 14-6 and 13-12.

Rusty Bolden scoops up a ground ball at Lee last week.