It has been a tough week of baseball for the Indianola Academy Colonels.
However, it is imperative that the four losses and a tie absorbed by the IA squad’s recent play be forgotten.
For this next Tuesday, the now 2-7-1 Colonels begin an eight-game string of all-important District 2-3A games.
“We are scoring enough runs and pitching well enough to win games but we have to improve defensively,” said IA Head Coach Scooter Prince. “Hopefully, with a lot more work, the better defense will begin to show itself next week,” he continued.
Weston Farmer applies the tag on a Pillow Academy baserunner during last week’s play in Greenwood. Photos by Andy Lo.
Opening the Colonels’ district play next Tuesday on the IA field will be the Fighting Irish of Greenville St. Joseph High School.
First pitch of this varsity doubleheader is scheduled to be thrown at 4 p.m.
In the Colonels’ recent play in the Battle of the Delta Spring Break Tournament, Monday’s action on the IA field yielded a tie and a loss.
Opening their tournament play against North Delta School of Batesville, a time limit forced the game to end deadlocked with a 13-13score.
Later Monday evening, the Colonels then suffered a hard-to-swallow 6-5 loss to Tunica Academy.
Although Tuesday’s conclusion of the tournament was not played due to rain, Washington School was proclaimed the winner of the six-team competition on the strength of allowing the fewest runs.
In other action this past week, the Colonels suffered error-plagued, road-trip losses to Pillow Academy (10-7) and Washington School of Greenville (13-12 and 11-10).
In Monday’s tie with North Delta School, a nine-run first inning by the Green Wave would haunt the Colonels in this contest.
The tie squandered 10 hits earned by the Colonels, which included a pair of home runs.
While Wade Lang hammered a three-run homer, Leland Selby added a solo blow.
However, Tyler Alford led all hitters with his three singles while Walker Anthony and Conner Roncali added a double apiece.
Meanwhile, in their one-run loss to Tunica Academy, the Colonels saw a 5-1 lead disappear in the sixth frame. Four IA fielding errors coupled with timely hits enabled Tunica to plate five runs and ultimately claim the game.
Leading the IA nine-hit effort in this game were Anthony and Cole Ferrell. The pair drilled a double and a single apiece.
In last Friday’s loss to Pillow Academy in Greenwood, the Colonels’ five errors hampered their efforts despite outhitting the Mustangs by a 9-5 margin.
Leading the IA nine hit attack were Alford, Walker Perkins, and Selby with a pair of singles apiece.
The additional play occurred last Thursday at Washington School when the Colonels dropped a pair of one-run decisions to the Generals.
In the opener, five IA hits could not overcome their six errors committed as Ferrell (double, single) and Selby (triple) paced the Colonels at the plate.
Nightcap action saw the Colonels commit 11 errors to aid the Generals in earning their second victory of the day.
Offensively, the Colonels eight hit attack was led by Anthony’s three singles while Lang added a double and a single to the IA effort.
Perkins also contributed a double to the Colonels’ hitting performance.
