Vols edge Raiders at home to compete district sweep
Colby Allen tries to be ready whenever his number is called.
After already providing the biggest hit of Starkville Academy’s
game against Lamar School Thursday night with a two-run home run, Allen was asked to close down the 6-5 victory for the Volunteers on the mound as well.
Starkville Academy coach Thomas Berkery has confidence to use Allen in crucial situations.
“He is so gritty,” Berkery said. “I trust him with the ball in those kind of spots. I hate to use him like that, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to get the w. He’ll be fine (today). He’s a young kid.”
With the Vols leading 6-3 going into the seventh, the visiting Raiders showed no quit by scoring a pair of runs and loaded the bases. Allen got the strikeout to end the game and earned the save.
Allen said he just wanted to be focused on whatever role he’s in at the time because of the importance of Class 4A, District 2 games.
“You just try to have the best at-bats you can have and play the best in the field,” Allen
said. “That’s a good ball club we just beat. It’s huge getting those three wins.”
Starkville Academy (7-3) was able to sweep the opening district series with Lamar after winning 12-3 and 10-3
in Meridian on Tuesday.
The Vols took a 1-0 lead in game three in the second inning when Allen walked and scored on a bases loaded walk to Drew Williams.
In the third inning, Cooper Mcneel was hit by a pitch, then stole second base and third before coming home on an error to put Starkville Academy up 2-0.
After the Raiders scored three runs to take the lead in the top of the fifth, the Vols answered with three of their own in the bottom half. Harris Mcreynolds led off the inning with a single and scored on a single by Mcneel. Allen was the next batter and delivered the two-run homer.
Starkville Academy added an insurance run in the sixth and it turned out to be a big one. Porter Skelton walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Ayden Alsobrooks.
Alsobrooks had three singles in the game for the Vols, while Harris Mcreynolds was the only other multiple hitter with two singles.
Starkville Academy used four pitchers in the game with Williams, Porter Skelton, Micah Mcgee and Allen. Williams got the start and struck out seven, while Skelton recorded three strikeouts.
Berkery was happy to cap the district sweep with a tough third victory because he knows those can be difficult to get.
“It’s tough to sweep in general, but your are talking about a third arm and talking about a bullpen that’s a little taxed,” Berkery said. “I told the guys that it’s a huge win overall. Not only to get the win, but it keeps us away from the what ifs of if we had taken that third game or if we’d done that. It’s a big time win. They are going to win some games in our conference. I’m happy to sweep that team. They’ve got a couple of good arms and some good bats.”
The Vols will travel to Madison-ridgeland Academy today before taking a spring break trip to Biloxi next week.