District play has begun for the Winston Academy Patriots after getting the baseball season started off on the right note.
WA started the first part of the schedule against some strong competition and finished with more wins than losses. Most recently, it was a 2-1 week last week as the Pats knocked off East Rankin Academy and Indianola Academy on Monday and Tuesday with a Thursday night loss to Bayou Academy on the road.
Against the Colonels of Indianola, WA went from a tight ball game in the fourth to an explosion of runs. The two squads were tied at 4-4 in the fourth inning before the Pats unleaded for six runs in the bottom of the frame. Five more runs came in the sixth and they came through with a run-rule win, 15-5.
Six errors by the Colonels would loom large as the Pats only outhit IA 9-8. Ben Caperton led the way going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two doubles. Jonah Hood finished 2-for-4 and had a double and four RBI while Eli Goforth finished with a hit that drove in two runs.
Jayson McMillin started the game and threw 4.0 innings with seven hits, four runs, two earned runs and two walks surrendered to go along with three strikeouts. King Ashford and Tripp Hill pitched the final 2.0 innings with just one unearned run, three walks, three strikeouts and three hits.
A tough Thursday loss followed at Bayou as WA nearly overcame its rough start to get a win. Reed Yates gave up four runs in the first two innings but only three of them were earned as five errors from the defense proved to be a killer.at
Yates came back and threw three-consecutive scoreless innings and the Pats got back in it with three runs in the sixth, but it would be too much to overcome. Bayou won 4-3, holding on after being held scoreless the rest of the game.
The senior Yates had a strong night despite the tough luck. He scattered just four hits across 4.0 innings and didn’t walk a batter while striking out three. Behind him, Hill threw the final inning and struck out a batter without surrendering a hit or a run.
WA had just four hits as well and two of the three runs were driven in by Eli Goforth.
The tough loss didn’t stop the Patriots from coming out strong in the first district game. Going on the road to take on Oak Hill in West Point Monday night of this week, the Pats came through with 10 hits and had a good night on the mound and in the field to take a 7-1 win.
The Pats (7-4, 1-0) Would bookend their offense with three runs in the first inning and another four in the seventh. Holder Tidwell had three of the team’s hits and WA got two hits each from Caperton and Owen Woodward. Jonah Hood also went deep with a two-run home run in the win.
Tidwell nearly went the distance with a gem of a start as the senior pitcher threw 6.0 innings, gave up four hits, one unearned run, one walk and struck out 10 batters. Pervis Holmes pitched the seventh inning and struck out two batters while giving up one hit and a walk.
The division series continued on Thursday night at home against Oak Hill and the two teams will meet again on Friday night in West Point. Game time is 6 p.m.
Spring Break week will allow the Pats to step away from division play one more time as they have a full week. The team plays ERA again on Tuesday with a Wednesday matchup against Manchester Academy and Friday against Wayne Academy.
