Despite being outscored 41-16 in a three-game series against Class AAAA, Region 1, foe Marshall Academy, Kirk Academy’s varsity baseball team had some bright spots heading into this week’s series against Oak Hill.
The Raiders (15-11, 9-3) displayed power at times throughout the series and didn’t fold against the powerful Patriots in the first and last games of the series.
After Game 3, KA head baseball coach Michael Bianco said Marshall is always a tough opponent.
“I told the boys in the post-game huddle — I don’t think necessarily at home – but for some reason when we play there (Holly Springs), we’re not ourselves,” he said. “Sometimes the moment is too big for some of us and we’ve got to get over that because I think that’s who we will have to go through. Over there, it gets to us; we feel the pressure a little bit more. It’s a tough place to play.”
During Game 1 in Holly Springs, which was bumped up from last Tuesday to Monday due to the threat of inclement weather, both offenses duked it out at the plate with Marshall coming out on top 17-10 in seven innings.
Junior infielder Hudson Mattox crushed the ball at the plate, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with a grand slam, three-run homer, a double, 8 RBI and two walks. He also scored twice. Senior infielder Ethan Presley hit a solo home run.
Senior shortstop Colbert Hathcock also finished the game with a double, single and scored three times, while freshman outfielder Noah Jackson chipped in with two singles, an RBI, walk and scored twice. Freshman center fielder Anthony Carollo added a single, walked twice and scored once.
The Raiders were back home for Game 3, however, struggled to get things going offensively, staying in the game with a more solid defensive performance than the first two games, only to lose 9-3.
“Tonight, we played a little bit more like ourselves, we just came out a little too slow against a guy who I thought was a good matchup for us on the mound,” Bianco said.
Junior outfielder Lane Goss led Kirk with two singles and an RBI. Carollo had the teams only extra base hit — a double — and walked once. Sophomore infielder Carter Hathcock finished with an RBI single, while classmate Logan Pratt had an RBI sacrifice.
Marshall scored two runs in the second, eight in the third and five in the fourth to run away with a 15-3, four-inning win in Game 2. Colbert Hathcock led KA with an RBI double and two walks, while Presley and Carter Hathcock added RBI singles. Pratt chipped in with a double.
Kirk Academy was scheduled to take on Oak Hill in West Point Monday afternoon in a Region 1 doubleheader. The Raiders will return home on Thursday to take on the visiting Raiders in junior varsity and varsity action beginning at 4 p.m. Kirk’s JV and varsity will play Bayou Academy in Cleveland on Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
