After three straight losses to defending state championship teams last week, Kirk Academy got back to its winning ways with back-to-back wins in the 2022 Spring Break Baseball Tournament hosted by Corinth High School last Saturday.
The Raiders (9-7, 3-0) finished 2-1 in the tournament after falling to Saltillo in their opening game last Friday afternoon. The Mississippi High School Athletic Association’s defending Class 5A state champions scored five runs in both the top of the fourth and sixth innings to run away with a 15-2 victory.
Against Saltillo, the Raiders managed only five hits and struck out 11 times. Senior pitcher Ethan Presley led Kirk’s offense with his first home run of the season – a solo shot – and a single. Junior infielder Hudson Mattox (run) also finished the game with two hits – both singles – and freshman outfielder Noah Jackson chipped in with a single.
Presley suffered the loss on the mound for Kirk. In three innings of work, he gave up nine hits, five earned runs and struck out four. Freshman Conner Timbs and junior Gage Griffin entered the game in relief with both giving up five hits and five earned runs. Timbs pitched two innings, while Griffin pitched one, striking out one batter.
The Tigers finished the six-inning contest with 19 hits including five doubles, a triple and a home run.
The Raiders finished the tournament with a 7-2 victory over the host Warriors in a nightcap that felt more like a winter tournament as temperatures dipped to the low 40s last Saturday. Mattox tossed a complete game allowing three hits, no earned runs and striking out 14 batters in seven innings of work.
Kirk’s offense was once again led by Presley, who finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, single and 3 RBI. Jackson also finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, 2 RBI and one run scored.
Mattox (1 run, 2 walks), senior Colbert Hathcock (2 runs, walk), sophomore Carter Hathcock (run, walk), junior Lane Goss (RBI) and freshman Anthony Carollo (2 runs, walk) finished with one single apiece. Senior outfielder Houston Snyder chipped in with an RBI on a sacrifice.
Saturday afternoon, Kirk Academy defeated the previously undefeated East Union High School Urchins (12-2), which were dealt their first loss of the season by Munford (Tenn.), 5-2, the game prior. The Raiders handed the Urchins their second loss of the season with an 8-6 victory thanks to a five-run sixth inning.
Goss paced the Raiders’ offense with two singles and 3 RBI, while Presley (2 runs) added a two-run single and Mattox (2 runs) chipped in with an RBI single and walked twice. Jackson (walk) was the only other player with multiple hits with two singles. Colbert Hathcock (2 runs, walk), Carter Hathcock, Snyder (walk) and sophomore Logan Pratt (run, walk) hit one single apiece. Carollo finished with an RBI sacrifice.
Colbert Hathcock was the winning pitcher for KA, pitching the sixth and final inning of the time-shortened game. He allowed one hit, one earned run and struck out two batters. Pratt started the contest, pitching five innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and recording four strike outs.
Last Wednesday, the Raiders traveled to Flowood for a doubleheader against Hartfield Academy. The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools’ Class AAAAA reigning state champs no-hit the visitors in a 10-0 loss in Game 1 followed by a 4-1 loss in Game 2.
Presley (walk), Carollo (walk) and Carter Hathcock (hit by pitch) were the only three baserunners for KA in the first game. Pratt suffered the loss on the mound, pitching three innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs and striking out two. Carter Hathcock pitched in relief allowing six earned runs.
In Game 2, the Raiders’ only hit came off the bat of Mattox, who belted his second home run of the season in the top of the sixth inning. He also suffered the loss on the mound in three innings of work, allowing two hits, one earned run and striking out two. Presley pitched three innings in relief, allowing two hits and no earned runs.
In the two-game series against the Hawks, the Raiders struck out 19 times.
Kirk Academy was scheduled to travel to Rossville (Tenn.) Academy on Tuesday for a District 1 doubleheader, however, weather forced cancellation. The Raiders will travel to Rossville for a doubleheader Friday and play at home Saturday afternoon to complete the three-game series.
