Kirk Academy’s varsity baseball team went undefeated last week with five wins including a sweep of Class AAAA, District 1 rival Lee Academy of Clarksdale, which was highlighted by 36 strikeouts over the three-game series.
The Raiders (7-4, 3-0) capped off the series with a 13-3 victory in the nightcap last Thursday in Clarksdale. Senior Ethan Presley picked up the win on the mound after five innings of work allowing three hits, two earned runs and two walks, while striking out nine batters. His performance on the mound followed up his three-hit, 5 RBI performance in Game 2 earlier that day to lead Kirk to a 12-6 win.
In Game 3, Kirk trailed 3-2 heading into the top of the fourth inning, but plated five runs followed up by six runs in the top of the fifth to 10-run the Colts. Junior Hudson Mattox (4 RBI, 2 runs), Presley (3 RBI), senior Colbert Hathcock (RBI, 3 runs) and freshman Anthony Carollo (RBI, 2 runs) led the Raiders with one double apiece. Mattox, Presley and Hathcock also had one single each.
Freshman Noah Jackson chipped in with two singles, 2 RBI and scored a pair of runs, while sophomore Carter Hathcock added a two-run single and scored twice. Senior Houston Snyder and sophomore Logan Pratt both reached base twice on walks.
Snyder joined Presley with a three-hit performance in Game 2 with three singles, 2 RBI and scored one run. Presley scored three times. Mattox also had multiple hits finishing 2-for-3 with two singles, two walks and scored three runs.
Colbert Hathcock (RBI, 2 runs), Carollo (run) and senior Ryan Jennings (RBI, walk) finished with one single apiece rounding out the Raiders’ 11-hit performance.
Pratt picked up the victory on the mound in four innings of work. He allowed six hits, five earned runs, walked five batters and struck out eight. Carter Hathcock pitched three innings in relief allowing two hits, no earned runs and struck out four batters.
On Wednesday, March 9, the Raiders were scheduled to play a doubleheader in Clarksdale followed by a single game in Grenada on Thursday. However, after two pitches Wednesday, umpires called the game due to wet and unsafe field conditions. After a brief meeting between both teams, the decision was made to travel back to Kirk Academy to play one game, which the Raiders won 4-0 led by a 15 strikeout shutout performance on the mound by Mattox, who allowed three hits and three walks in seven innings.
Colbert Hathcock led Kirk at the plate with a double, single and 2 RBI. Carollo chipped in with two singles and an RBI, while Hudson and junior Lane Goss added one single apiece.
The Raiders finished the week of victories last Friday with an 18-17 win in frigid conditions in Tunica against Tunica Academy. Presley drove in five runs once again to lead KA at the dish with two doubles and three runs scored. Mattox led in hits with his first home run of the season and two doubles, while driving in two runs and scoring five times.
Snyder (2 singles, 2 runs) and Goss (single, run) finished the eight-inning game with 2 RBI each. Carter Hathcock (3 runs) added an RBI single, while his brother, Colbert, Pratt and freshman Landon Rice drove in one run each. Jackson also finished with a single.
Carter Hathcock also picked up the win after pitching the last two innings, allowing four hits, three runs, walking three and striking out three. Snyder started the game on the mound, pitching three innings and allowing eight hits, four earned runs, walking five and striking out two batters. Colbert Hathcock also pitched three innings, allowing two hits, four earned runs, five walks and striking out five.
Kirk started the week with an 8-1 victory over Class AAAAA Pillow Academy out of Greenwood. Snyder was the winning pitcher after tossing four innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out seven batters. Presley (1 inning, 1 strikeout), Colbert Hathcock (1.1 innings, 4 strikeouts) and Carter Hathcock (0.2 of an inning) entered the game in relief.
Colbert Hathcock led the Raiders at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double, single, 3 RBI and a run scored. Carter Hathcock (RBI, run) and Mattox (2 walks) chipped in with two singles apiece, while Snyder finished with an RBI single. Carollo, Jackson and Rice each had an RBI.
Saturday’s scheduled contest against Madison-Ridgeland Academy in Madison was canceled due to inclement weather.
Kirk Academy traveled to Flowood to take on Hartfield Academy Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Raiders will play in a Spring Break Tournament at Corinth later in the week facing defending Class 5A state champs Saltillo at 3 p.m. on Friday and taking on East Union at 3 p.m. and Corinth at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
