Last week was a chance for Winston Academy to step out of the district slate and test itself against some great competition.
It was a battle of the Patriots in Holly Springs as WA traveled to take on Marshall Academy. It was the home team that would impress, however, with Marshall getting a lead early and pushing away late in an 8-0 win.
WA was hanging in the ball game for the first six innings and trailing just 3-0, but the offense never materialized. A five-run sixth would leave no doubt for Marshall.
Marshall starter Tucker Chumney was a difficult arm to hit as he threw the complete game and allowed just two hits while working around four walks to pitch the shutout. He struck out eight batters.
Charlie Smith threw four WA pitchers in the game with Jayson McMillin, Holder Tidwell, Tripp Hill and Reed Yates all getting a turn, but none of the three pitched beyond 2.0 innings.
It’s now back to the district grind for WA as the team gets back into conference play for the final six games. The Pats (12-7, 6-0) have a chance to put themselves in a great spot for postseason with success these final two weeks and it begins this week against Carroll Academy.
WA started the series on the road at Carroll on Tuesday and hosted the Rebels on Thursday night. Friday’s game three on the road is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Patriots continue streak against Oak Hill; take on Carroll Academy
By Robbie Faulk
Winston County Journal
*Editor’s Note: This story was inadvertently left out of the March 28 edition of the Winston County Journal and is being ran this week in its entirety. We apologize for the mistake.
Winston Academy continued its major hot streak to start district play as the Patriots followed up a three-game sweep of Oak Hill Academy with another one.
This time, it was Winona Christian that would feel the wrath of the Pats. WA played the Stars three times last week and won by a combined 36-3 to stay undefeated in conference play.
The first game set the tone for the Pats as they traveled to Winona on Tuesday and pounded the Stars 22-2 in just four innings. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, WA scored six runs in the second, 10 in the third and six more in the fourth to get the rune rule. Both teams had three errors in the game but the 11-2 advantage in hits would be the difference.
Reed Yates was 3-for-5 to lead the way and he drove in three runs while WA also had two hits from Jonah Hood and Holder Tidwell. The senior Tidwell also had four RBI thanks to a double and a home run in the win. Eli Goforth led the team with five RBI and had a double while Aaron Shafer drove in four runs.
Goforth also walked three times while Owen Woodward and Tripp Hill had two walks a piece. Tidwell started the game on the mound and pitched 3.0 innings with two hits, two runs, one walk and five strikeouts. Hill pitched the fourth facing five batters and striking out one in a scoreless finish.
WA translated that effort over into Thursday’s matchup at home when the Pats scored six runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 10-0 win in six innings. WA had a 12-3 advantage with hits. Tidwell continued his great senior year at the plate with three hits, six RBI and another double and home run night.
Shafer, Hood and Yates had two hits each while Woodward drove in two more runs. Yates pitched the complete game shutout with 6.0 innings, three hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
The three-game sweep came on Friday as the Pats won a 4-1 affair. Pitching and defense helped hold a lead the entire way as the offense wasn’t as explosive as the first two contests. Yates was the only player on the team with two hits and he had a double in the win while Woodard and Hill each had two-baggers as well. Tidwell and Hood walked twice.
WA (12-6, 6-0) got a third-straight quality start as Jayson McMillin pitched the complete game this time. McMillin only allowed three hits and two walks in 7.0 innings with five strikeouts to seal up the three-game sweep and hand the Pats a dominant series win.
This week is a step away from district play for the Pats as they travel to Marshall Academy on Thursday night. After that matchup, WA is back into district play as they try to take a step closer to a district championship by taking on Carroll Academy.
The three-game set begins with a road affair at Carrollton on Tuesday with a home matchup on Thursday night and back to Carroll on Friday. All games are set for 6 p.m. first pitch.
