Veteran team takes field for Marshall

It’s been a long time coming.

After last year’s high school baseball season was halted in March due to COVID-19, the Marshall Academy Patriots are set to play a game this week for the first time in about 330 days.

“Anybody who plays baseball should be excited,” coach Bruce Branch said. “After what happened with COVID19, I’ve stressed to my players that they should never take this game for granted. Always treat it like it’s your last game and enjoy the ride.”

That ride in 2021 should be a good one. Entering his third season, Branch’s youngsters have grown up.

In 2019, his team of mostly eighth and ninth graders got 10 wins, which he called “a major accomplishment” and placed third in the district. The Patriots just barely missed the playoffs.

In 2020, the pandemic hit after Marshall got off to a 3-6 start against very strong foes. Five of the six losses were by one run, and two of the losses were 10-inning games. Marshall had not started District 13A competition before the season came to a screeching halt.

“I’m not sure where this team could have taken us last season,” Branch said. “I do know we had a very good baseball team.”

It’s a new year, and his team is made up of mostly sophomores and juniors. There’s only one senior.

“We’re seeing the fruits of our labor pay off,” Branch said. “We’re eager to get started. This is a special group of kids.”

The Patriots were scheduled to play Lewisburg High School on Wednesday of this week. Saturday, they travel to Starkville Academy for the Golden Triangle Tournament. They will to face the host Volunteers and Lake Cormorant.

Coach Branch believes a strength of his squad will be defense.

“We should be really good defensively,” he said. “I’ve always been big on defense, and that stance won’t change. Defense wins championships.”

And he also likes his batting order, all the way through the line-up, one to nine. “We can swing the bats with anybody,” Branch said. “We proved we could hit last year.” Pitching depth is solid. “Most all can throw 78 to 81 (miles per hour),” he said. “We don’t have the 84 to 87 guy who can really throw it by people. “That’s a concern, but that’s also one of the reasons that our defense has to be sound. If we are not sound defensively, we won’t be successful. Solid defense — we want that to be who we are.” The district slate, which will each be a three-game series, does not start until March 23 versus Kirk Academy. Other district opponents are Clarksdale Lee Academy and North Delta School.

“This is more of a baseball district,” Branch said. “And a lot of the kids know each other. The competition will be stout — all the teams should match up well. No series will be easy.”

He said he is excited that in a three-game series, he has nine different guys he can put on the mound to compete.

“Hopefully, that’s where we will have the advantage,” Branch said. “Maybe in the third game of a series, we can set ourselves apart.”

Branch will be assisted by Jason Taylor and Tobe West.

The coaching staff looks forward to not only just playing some baseball for the first time in a long time, but seeing how far this team can go.

“It’s time to put up or shut up,” Branch said. “We have to show our growth. We’re not a young team anymore. This is a veteran ball club now.

“We’re ready to get on the road and see how far these kids can take us. It will take commitment, and if we embrace it and don’t get complacent, I believe we can make a run at it (a state championship).”