The Indianola Academy Colonels are the new District 1AAA champions as they prepare for the upcoming State AAA baseball playoffs.
Hoping to continue their success which has been a consistent occurrence of late, the Colonels have improved their record to a stellar 20-5, 11-1 mark.
On the strength of extremely hot bats (66 hits in five district games) and stifling pitching, this past week the Colonels claimed back to back district series victories to earn their championship crown.
Most recently in district play, the Colonels defeated Kirk Academy of Grenada three times in a 24 hour period as Tuesday night’s road trip doubleheader sweep (11-3, 15-3) was preceded by Monday night’s 10-2 home field victory.
These victories followed last Thursday’s manhandling of visiting Bayou Academy of Cleveland, when the Colonels recorded 22-8 and 14-0 victories over the visiting Colts.
Sandwiched between these games was last Friday’s 15-4 non-district decision over Deer Creek School of Arcola.
Baseball action resumes today when the Colonels travel to Washington School in Greenville to take on a strong Generals squad. First pitch for this non-district game against the AAAA member is scheduled for 6 p.m.
As for the State AAA playoffs set to begin the week of April 30, the Colonels initial competition will come from Starkville Academy or Heritage Academy of Columbus. The dates and game times for this best-of three series are to be announced.
In IA’s Tuesday doubleheader sweep of Kirk Academy in Grenada, the Colonels used 24 hits to help outscore the Raiders 26-6 and claim the series.
The Colonels’ hitting attack was highlighted this day by Logan White’s five hits, Wesley Lester’s pair of home runs, and a grand slam homer by Reed Junkin.
On the mound, Junkin claimed the win in the opening game while Will Davis’ five hitter shut down the Raiders in the nightcap.
On Monday, the Colonels’ began their series sweep of Kirk Academy at home and promptly spotted the Raiders a 2-0 lead.
However, while pitcher Josh Hill was busy throwing a complete game one-hitter, the IA bats woke up in the third frame when 10 batters pushed four runs across the plate to give the Colonels a permanent lead.
Accumulating 13 hits in the contest, Josh Hill and Spencer Roberson paced the attack with a double and a single apiece. Additional firepower came from Davis, James Hill, and Thomas Putnam; all of whom drilled a pair of singles apiece to go along with a Lester double.
On the mound, Josh Hill allowed only a first inning single while striking out 12 batters and issuing but one walk.
As for last Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of Bayou Academy, the Colonels sent more than nine batters to the plate on four occasions during the evening’s play, an effort which resulted in 29 hits over the course of the two games.
With the baseball often finding outfield gaps, IA hitters collected three home runs, two triples, and seven doubles off the six Bayou Academy pitchers attempting to quiet the Colonels’ bats.
In the opening 22-8 victory, the Colonels broke open an 8-8 game in the bottom of the third inning by sending a dozen batters to the plate and scoring eight runs.
While Junkin claimed the win on the mound (8 hits, four strikeouts) in this five-inning game, at the plate Josh Hill paced the team as he added two singles and a double to his three-run home run; an impressive effort which drove seven runs across the plate.
Also drilling his first of a pair of three run homers of the day was Roberson while Davis hammered two doubles among his three hits earned.
Additional success at the plate was had with White’s pair of doubles while Lester hammered three singles.
In the nightcap, Davis earned the five inning shutout on the mound as he struck out six batters while giving up only two hits and a walk.
Offensively, a 12-run second inning would put the Colonels far ahead in this game as eight hits helped send runners across the plate. The uprising was highlighted by Lester’s bases loaded triple.
Roberson would also later crush his second three-run homer while Sebastian Harris added a triple to his single earned in the contest.
Meanwhile, White and James Hill drilled a pair of singles apiece to add to the IA’s 13 hit total in the game.
