Patriots ride perfect game for win over the Hornets
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots baseball team got an unexpected and much welcome surprise Tuesday from junior pitcher Jacob Hickman, who tossed a perfect game, recording 12 strikeouts in the Patriots'
11-0 win over Hazen. Hickman did not give up hit or a run in the fiveinning game.
T h e Patriots got on the board in the bottom of the second inning after Hoggatt, Parker,
Brown and Medford crossed the plate putting up the first runs of the game.
The Patriots did their part offensively, plating six runs in the third inning. Austin Varner, Maddox Hoggatt, Blaine Brown and Brody Parker each singled and scored runs for the Patriot inning, while Brant Medford singled, scored a pair of run on a single and error.
Parker led the Patriots with a pair of base hits, while Brody Bass drew two walks giving the
Patriots seven walks in the game. The stole 11 bases and played perfection in the field not committing an error.
In a game played against West Memphis on Monday, the Patriots won the game 5-4 in extra innings.
"It was an interesting nonconference game," P-W head coach Kevin Whitson said. "West Memphis was out of pitching, and so were we since we had the conference games coming up. But we wanted to play the game and we wanted to play West Memphis because we knew they were a really good hitting team, and we wanted our defense to get some work in the field. They did and I think it will help as we finish out the conference season and head into regionals and hopefully state. It was definitely a team effort. West Memphis put the ball in play from their first six batters. We are still in second in the conference behind first place McCrory.
“…We wanted to play West Memphis because we knew they were a really good hitting team, and we wanted our defense to get some work in the field.” – PW Baseball Coach Kevin Whitson
P-W senior River Worley, who doesn't get much playing time, made an outstanding catch in the outfield, tracking a triple to make the catch right on the outfield fence, according to Whitson.
The Patriots hosted Des Arc Wednesday and will open play as the No. 2 seed from their conference in the Class 2A
North Regional at Buffalo Island Central.
"Right now, we are sitting in a very good place in the conference for seeding purposes," Whitson added. "Our first-round regional game more than likely will be against Bay. I'm not 100 percent on that, but from the way it looks, I think that is who we will see."