COLUMBUS — It was the second inning that didn’t stop for Heritage Academy.
Down 3-0 in the second game of a Thursday doubleheader against rival Starkville Academy, the Patriots were searching for a breakthrough.
Having won the first game 9-4, Heritage was more than capable of an offensive outburst, and it took no time for that to happen in the nightcap as the Pats scored 11 runs in the second inning, catapulting them to a 14-4 win in five innings over the Volunteers and a doubleheader sweep.
“A couple of weekends ago, we kind of slept walked through Nettleton,” Heritage Academy assistant coach Brad Haines said. “I got with the boys and told them that we have to be focused and we have to play our game every time … We had three sweeps in a row in district and we knew we wanted to finish that off.”
Thursday was a masterclass on both sides of the ball for Heritage (18-10, 11-3 in district), with the first game of the doubleheader showcasing No. 2 starter Carson Hollis, who threw a complete game in the win, striking out five in seven innings.
“I just kept throwing strikes and trusting my infielders and outfielders to make plays for me,” Hollis said.
The Patriots scored a run in every offensive inning, highlighted by solo homers from Jack Ketchum and Spencer Singley.
It was a hitting clinic from Heritage in both games, recording 10+ hits in each game, including a hit parade in the second inning of the second game.
RBI single after RBI single came through as the Pats kept manufacturing runs with Starkville Academy (10-20, 3-12 in district) unable to stop them.
“We sputtered in the middle innings of both games today,” Starkville Academy head coach Thomas Berkery said. “Give them credit, they kept filling it up.”
Wyatt Johnson stood out offensively in game one, recording a hit and two runs scored while Creed Pierce had a three-hit game in the nightcap.
Heritage’s regular season is now complete, finishing second in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Class 5A, District 1. All that’s left is a waiting game before playoffs begin next week.
“We play off that momentum and they’re a bunch of crazy kids that love getting going and playing pressure baseball,” Haines said.
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