Twelve straight wins for Patriots

Marshall Academy extended its win streak to 12 last week, including a pair of victories in the Battle on the Beach at Biloxi.

“It was a great experience for the kids and the parents ­ all had a good time,” coach Bruce Branch said about the spring break trip.

“Team-wise, we had some teambuilding activities, like a scavenger hunt one night. Plus, we wrote our goals down and talked about how we can get better and grow as a team.”

The Patriots built a big first-inning lead on the coast Monday, March 15, versus Northpoint Christian School and then hung on for an 8-5 win.

MA fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first and quickly bounced back to score seven in the bottom of the inning.

The Pats went up 8-1 in the bottom of the second.

Then Northpoint chipped away, scoring one in the top of the fourth and three in the top of the sixth, but came up short.

“It was a good game for us,” Branch said. “We jumped on them early, but we weren’t able to get much going offensively after that.

“The kids faced adversity and handled it well. We played good defense and pitched pretty well against a good Northpoint team and got the win.”

Jordan Bonds led an eight-hit Marshall attack with a pair of hits and two runs-batted-in. Rusty Bolden also had two hits. Devin Sanders drove in two runs.

Jackson Graves started on the mound, pitched three innings and got the win. He struck out six, walked three and gave up three hits. In three innings of relief work, Walker Sanders struck out four, walked one and gave up three hits.

Bonds provided the big blow the next day in a 12-0 rout of Theodore, Ala.

With MA leading 3-0 in the bottom of the third, he crushed a grand slam over the left-center-field wall.

“Jordan’s grand slam broke the game open,” Branch said. “I’ve been stressing to him the importance of hitting to all parts of the field, and it’s clicking for him now. He hit it over a 20foot wall.”

The Patriots scored nine runs in the huge inning. Colton Atherton added a bases-clearing double.

MA won the game in just four innings due to the run rule.

Hunter Peeks threw all four innings and picked up the mound victory. He gave up just two hits.

“Theodore had played some stiff competition this season,” Branch said, “but we didn’t really know what to expect. They were a scrappy team. Our kids responded well and played well. We did what we’ve done all year ­ hit the baseball and put runs on the board.”

The Patriots were scheduled to wrap up the Battle on the Beach by facing Ocean Springs Wednesday, but it was cancelled due to rain.

“That game would have been a good measuring stick for us, but we can’t control Mother Nature,” he said.

MA-Lake Cormorant Marshall claimed an extrainning, 7-6 win Saturday afternoon at home over Lake Cormorant. Jack Smith had a big day at the plate with three hits, including a pair of doubles, and two RBIs. Landon Houston added a double and two RBIs, while Atherton connected for two hits.

The Patriots had nine hits as a team.

They led 5-2 going to the seventh. The Gators scored four to take a 6-5 lead.

MA scored one in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras, and then won it in the bottom of the ninth on Peeks’ bases-loaded bunt that scored Colton Neal from third.

Coach Branch used four pitchers. Starter Jamie Graves threw three innings ­ striking out six, walking one and giving up three hits. Atherton struck out three and gave up two hits in three innings of work. Bolden gave up a pair of hits and walked one. Bonds closed things out and got the win. In three innings of work, he struck out four and gave up two hits.

The Patriots, 12-1 on the season, started District 1-3A play on Monday of this week with a trip to Grenada to face Kirk Academy in a doubleheader. They host the Raiders Thursday at 6. They then go to Lake Cormorant Saturday at 1 p.m. Before visiting Lee Academy (Clarksdale) next Tuesday, March 30, in district action.

“Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going,” Branch said. “The kids are playing hard for me. It’s fun to be around them.”