Five fielding errors proved costly in the Heritage Academy baseball team’s game against Simpson Academy in the first round of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA playoff series.
Simpson Academy chased starting pitcher Carter Putt in the second inning, and Heritage Academy’s offense couldn’t keep up in a 9-7 loss Tuesday night.
Heritage Academy coach Bruce Branch said errors that led to four runs was the difference.
“We missed some play calls in the first inning,” Branch said. “That was the difference. We catch that ball, who knows what happens. Again in the second or third another misplayed ball. … You can’t give anyone anything because they are going to take advantage of it, and tonight they took advantage of our errors.”
In the top of the second, Simpson Academy’s Caleb Garner walked and moved to third on a single by Thomas Pepper. Brady Kemp’s double made it 1-0. After Sam Williams walked to load the bases, Sam McWilliams doubled to make it 3-0. Williams scored when Hooks Harvey reached on an error.
In the bottom of the third, Heritage Academy stormed back to take the lead. Judd Murphy was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Banks Hyde then doubled to left field and Brandon Jones hit an RBI single to right field. Zach Oswalt had an RBI groundout that moved Jones to second. After Jones advanced on a wild pitch, Tyler Anderson was hit by a pitch. When Anderson stole second, the catcher threw the ball into the outfield and Jones scored to make it 4-3. Toby Young’s two-run moonshot home run made it 5-4.
Hyde said the way the Patriots responded after trailing 4-0 shows their grit.
“I thought we were really tough tonight,” Hyde said. “We saw the ball deep in the zone. We hit some good shots and hit two home runs. It was good hitting night.”
In the top of the fourth, Simpson Academy loaded the bases and re-took the lead on a double to right field. Mark Hubbard added an RBI single to left field to make it 8-5.
The Patriots scored again in the bottom of the fourth on a Brandon Jones single. In the bottom of the fifth, Seth Harris hit a solo home run and cut lead to 8-7.
The Cougars added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Hubbard scored on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the seventh, Anderson singled, but three strikeouts ended the game.
The Patriots, already with a depleted pitching staff with ace Logan Sneed injured, used four pitchers and have to travel to Mendenhall on Friday and hope all of their pitchers are ready to throw.
“We just need our pitchers to throw strikes and we are going to have to hit the crap out of the ball,” Young said.
Branch said the Patriots need senior leadership on the mound to help guide the squad to a victory in Game 2. He preached “How bad do you want it” to his team after the game.
“Whether Tyler Anderson or JR Lott start Game 2, we are going to have to piece it together,” Branch said. “We are going to have to throw strikes and let our defense play. That is going to be our game plan going down there. We have been a good road team all year. I feel good on the road at their place with a senior possibly on the mound. We are hitting the ball well and seeing the ball at the plate. I like our chances.”
n Oak Hill Academy 23, West Memphis Christian School 7: At West Memphis, Arkansas, Ken “Buddy” Dill was 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, and seven RBIs to lead the Raiders to their victory in Game 1 of their MAIS Class AA opening-round playoff series.
Reiley Tate was 4-for-5 with three doubles, an RBI, and five runs scored, Powell Tabor was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases, Macon McBrayer was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Dylan Scott was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
Scott also struck out four in four innings for Oak Hill Academy, the No. 1 seed out of District 2.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be at 4 p.m. Thursday. If needed, Game 3 would follow approximately 30 minutes after the first game.
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