Heritage takes three from Ridgeland to maintain Region 7-AAAA lead
After taking two of three against Pickens, the Heritage Generals continued Region 7-AAAA play last week by sweeping three games against Ridgeland to enter the new week atop the standings headed into this week’s big three-game set with Northwest Whitfield.
Heritage 11, Ridgeland 1
The Generals scored eight times in the top of the second inning last Tuesday night at Jay Smith Field in Rossville, picking up a double, four singles and three walks in the frame, while a pair of errors allowed three of the runs to score. Gage Shaver had a two-run single, Cannon Stafford hit a two-run double and C.J. Robertson delivered a twoout, RBI-single.
Brady Chandler and Zach Barrett picked up RBIs in fourth inning before the Panthers finally got on the board in the bottom of the frame.
Aiden Raymer laced a one-out double and stood on third after a pair of walks before later scoring on a wild pitch.
Dylan Bryan capped the night for Heritage with an RBI-single in the sixth. Ten of the Generals’ 11 hits were singles. Stafford, Robertson, Barrett and Alex Mixon all finished with two hits apiece on the night.
Barrett pitched six innings of twohit ball. He walked six batters and struck out seven, while the run he allowed was earned.
Wyatt Blevins had the other hit
for Ridgeland, a single. Robert Jent took the loss, while Raymer and Austyn Acuff also pitched for the home team. They combined to surrender 11 hits and eight walks in six innings. They also struck out a total of five batters, while only four of the runs were earned.
Heritage 14, Ridgeland 0
Friday’s doubleheader opener in Boynton saw the Generals score five times in the first inning and never look back.
Robertson, Shaver, Cade Kiniry and Caden Snyder had two hits apiece for Heritage. Kiniry, Snyder, Chandler and J.T. Eaton had two RBIs each, while Stafford and Landen Skeen each drove in one run.
Kiniry was the benefactor of all the run support. He allowed three hits and gave up three walks, while striking out three batters in five innings to get the win.
Hayden Brewer pitched 3.1 innings for Ridgeland, allowing seven earned runs and walking five batters, while striking out two. Curtis Wells threw the final two-thirds of an inning, allowing an unearned run on two hits with one strikeout.
Isaac Pitts had a pair of singles and Jordan McLin doubled to account for the Panthers’ three total hits.
Heritage 3, Ridgeland 2
The nightcap was much more lowscoring, but the result was the same as the Generals swept the twinbill and the region series.
Stafford drove in a run with a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the first inning, but four walks tied the game in the top of the second. Pitts drew the free pass with the bases loaded to bring in Ridgeland’s first run of the game.
The Panthers would take a 2-1 lead an inning later. Hudson Couch doubled before Robert Jent’s RBI-single
would bring in courtesy runner Levi Millsaps with the go-ahead run.
However, the lead would be shortlived as the home team retook the lead a half-inning later. Robertson reached on an error and Kiniry singled before Snyder drove in both runs with a twoout double.
Heritage’s pitching did the rest, setting down 13 straight batters in order before Pitts delivered a two-out single in the top of the seventh. He took second on a passed ball, but was caught stealing third to end the game.
Skeen pitched five innings of threehit ball. He struck out nine and walked five, while the two runs he allowed were earned. J.J. Hunt allowed just one hit and struck out one batter in two innings of relief to pick up save for Heritage (15-4, 8-1).
Jent gave up just three hits and walked three batters in six innings for Ridgeland (3-11, 2-7). He fanned five hitters and none of the runs he allowed were earned.
Ridgeland will face Central-Carroll in a three-game region series this week.