Logan Sneed dominated on the mound and at the plate Tuesday night to lead the Heritage Academy baseball team to a 6-2 win against Starkville Academy Volunteers on the opening night of Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA, Region 2 play.
Sneed allowed two hits and one run in six innings. He struck out seven. Sneed also went 3-for-3 with a double, two singles, and three RBIs.
Heritage Academy coach Bruce Branch said Sneed will need to continue to lead the team if it wants to make a run deep in the playoffs.
“I thought Sneed struggled with his offspeed pitches early and didn’t find his curveball early and allowed them to get a few hits, but once he got into a groove, it was no doubt a dominant performance from him,” Branch said. “That is what we have been looking from him all season, and that is what we get from him every time he steps on the mound.”
The Volunteers (2-4, 0-1) struck first early in the second inning when Codie Futral doubled to left field and an error on the pickoff move moved him to third base. Will Miller’s sacrifice fly to center field made it 1-0.
The Patriots (6-11, 1-0) responded in the bottom of the second when Toby Young singled and Sneed helped himself with a RBI double to left-center field. Zach Oswalt singled Sneed in to make it 2-1.
In the third, the Volunteers loaded the bases with one out, but a pop fly to first base and a fly ball to left field ended the threat.
Starkville Academy coach Brooks Roberts said his team didn’t make the plays needed to secure the victory, but he is still confident in his team’s ability to hit the ball.
“We just didn’t capitalize,” Roberts said. “We had plenty of chances to stay in that ballgame and take that lead. We didn’t take very good at-bats when we had runners in scoring position. We blew a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the third inning. You just can’t leave those chances on the field against a good team like Heritage Academy.”
The Patriots added two runs in the bottom half of the third when Brandon Jones walked and Tyler Anderson doubled to left field to score him. Seth Harris singled to score Anderson and make it 4-1.
Sneed then settled in and didn’t allow a hit the rest of the night. He said his team is starting to get hot at the plate, which is going to help the entire pitching staff.
“It’s way easier to pitch when I have a lead,” Sneed said. “It’s a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I just have to keep doing my job. I knew if I kept throwing strikes, my team would play well behind me and help us win.”
Sneed helped himself again in the bottom of the fifth when he singled to center field to score two to make it 6-1.
Carter Putt came on in the top of the seventh and allowed a run on a double to left field, but he closed the game to help the Patriots get the all-important first district win. The teams will play again Thursday in Starkville.
Six Patriots accounted for their eight hits. Anderson, who had an RBI double, said the team’s hitting Tuesday night will give it confidence moving forward. He said the challenging schedule the team faced early in the season also will help it at the plate.
“Getting that many people getting hits gives our players confidence,” Anderson said. “We did not hit well over spring break and we came into this game prepared. I didn’t have any doubt in any players at the plate today.”
Roberts also isn’t worried about his team’s ability to bounce back.
“We were in the same situation last year against the same team,” Roberts said. “We came back and won district. We have an experienced group of guys and we have been here before. We have done it, but we have to see a new energy and a new focus Thursday.”
Branch doesn’t want the Patriots to get too happy with the first district win. He said his players will need to bring the same intensity Thursday.
“Staying focused is the thing I preached to my guys tonight,” Branch said. “This is Game 1. We have another one and we have to stay humble and have a good day of practice. What I am looking forward to is staying focused as a team.”
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