By Dalton Middleton
Special to The Dispatch
Senior Landen Rogers took the mound and delivered an outstanding performance to lead the Starkville Academy Volunteers over the Heritage Academy Patriots 13-2 in Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA, District 2 action at Tripp Carson Field.
After taking a loss in his first start against Heritage Academy this year, Rogers scattered four hits, struck out seven Patriots, and only allowed two runs to help lead the Volunteers to their sixth straight district win and their third straight district championship.
Rogers said he knew he had to show up and perform better this game than he did in his first start. He said his team had his back the entire night and that helped him perform.
“Just keeping it low and outside, that was the main thing,” Rogers said. “My defense behind me is going to have my back, so just getting them some ground balls. I know they’re going to make plays. I knew this was a big game and that we had to have it and I just gave it all I had on the mound. Our whole team played as good as they could and it was a really good win.”
Heritage Academy coach Bruce Branch said Rogers looked pristine on the mound.
“Credit Rogers tonight,” Branch said. “He was on top of his game. We did have opportunities and couldn’t get anything going. We squared some balls up but just couldn’t get it going. They took us out of our game plan early and we were stuck playing catchup all night.”
In Brooks Roberts fourth year at Starkville Academy and first year as the head coach, he said winning the district championship is what the kids work for everyday.
Even with the district wrapped up, Roberts said they are not going to slack up and they are going to take these next two division games just like the previous ones. He commended the seniors for their hard work and their dedication to the team’s success.
“We are going to make sure we are still level headed and make sure we are still playing our same brand of baseball,” Roberts said. “Keep the same approach. This is three years in a row that these guys have won district. These seniors don’t know anything but winning. I love these guys and they know only one speed of baseball and that is hard, fast, and physical. They play their butts off every night.”
With not only Rogers dealing on the mound, the Volunteer offense exploded for 13 runs on 10 hits. Starkville Academy loaded the bases in three separate innings, while scoring eight of their 13 runs with the bases loaded.
Will Miller started the scoring in the first inning with a bases clearing double to left field to put the Volunteers up 3-0. The Vols scored another run in the second, and three more in the third inning to go up 7-0.
Only managing one hit through the first three innings, the Patriots got two hits and a base-runner due to an error to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rogers allowed only one run and got out of the jam without any more damage.
Up 7-1, the Volunteers added six more runs in the top of the sixth inning and put the Patriots in a do-or-die situation in the bottom of the sixth. Rogers took the mound and allowed one run in the bottom of the sixth, but struck out the last two batters to place the rule rule in effect.
Miller, who had two hits at the plate and drove in four runs, said the team has been trying to take better swings and better approaches at the plate.
“We just tried to make things simple,” Miller said. “Barrel the ball up and swing into the gaps. Coach has been working with us a lot on hitting the ball opposite field, and we did that well tonight. I took a simple approach tonight. Kept my weight back, my hands inside, and pushed the ball out.”
With Starkville Academy winning the district, the second place and playoff spot is up for grabs between Leake Academy and Heritage Academy. The Patriots travel to Leake on Thursday for the prime matchup.
After going 1-1 against Leake earlier in the season, head coach Bruce Branch feels confident going into Thursday’s game.
“I feel really good,” Branch said. “You know, no doubt anytime Logan Sneed is on the mound, he gives us a chance to win. I feel good with Logan on the mound. He has given us an opportunity to win the game every time he steps on the mound. So senior on the mound on the road, I like my chances. So hopefully we come ready to play.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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