WEST POINT — A five-run first inning seemed like a great start for Oak Hill Academy baseball in the second game of their first round Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Class 4A playoff game against St. Joe.
Then, the floodgates opened, an eight-run second inning that saw the Raiders jump out to a 13-0 lead, with a run-run victory fresh on their minds.
Oak Hill did just that with a two-run single in the bottom of the third for a 15-0 mercy rule win and a trip to the second round.
“They came out ready to play today,” Oak Hill Academy head coach John Siary said. “We focused on the things we did wrong during practice this week, which really helped. Hitting the slow speed, hitting the curveball. We really focused on that part of it, and our pitcher filled up the zone today.”
Raiders senior starter Gunter Reed threw a two-hit shutout over three innings today, striking out four.
Having plenty of run support made his outing that much easier, but Friday was about the offense, and a lot of it.
“The kid was throwing a lot of meaty curveballs to start and fastballs just right down the middle,” Ty Harden said. “That’s what we worked on in practice. We were just on it.”
Harden was especially on it, going 3-for-3 with a homer, double, two runs scored and eight RBIs. He and John Ross Craven each had a double on the evening, Craven also adding a triple to the mix.
“It just looked like a beach ball today,” Harden said. “I felt good today, felt good coming into the game.”
Combined, the Raiders out-scored St. Joe, 24-2, in the series, averaging 2.4 runs an inning over the past two games.
A quick sweep gives Oak Hill much-needed time before the second round of the Class 4A playoffs, which begin on Monday.
There are no days off for the Raiders, who are getting back at it on Saturday morning, but extra time to prepare is always welcomed.
“Tomorrow we’ll be back out here at 9, ready to get after it,” Siary said.
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