How do you win two baseball games in three days?
Combine a pair of pitching gems –one being a no-hitter- with 24 runs scored, and the net result was a pair of non-district victories for the 2-3 Indianola Academy Colonels.
“I told the kids that this was what winning a district series feels like,” said IA Head Coach Scooter Prince. “Taking two of three games played is a good way to get into the win column. I am proud of the effort the team gave.”
However, additional opportunities to pick up victories are plentiful as the Colonels are scheduled to play five more games within six days this week; and at least four of those are scheduled to be played on their home field.
While the Colonels will remain in non-district action throughout the next week of play, this period of time will feature their participation in next week’s Battle of the Delta Spring Break Tournament.
Six teams will participate in this tournament and in addition to IA, Greenville Christian School, North Delta School of Batesville, Riverside High School of Avon, Tunica Academy, and Washington School of Greenville will compete.
This tournament is scheduled to occur at three different sites with IA and Washington School hosting Monday’s action.
Next Tuesday’s baseball play is scheduled to be held at Mississippi Delta Community College with the first game starting at 10 a.m. and the final clash to begin at 3 p.m.
As for the Colonels, their opening game of the tournament will be held on their own field at noon against North Delta School.
The Colonels will then return to their home field again at 5 p.m. for a contest against Tunica Academy.
However, prior to their upcoming tournament action, there are two additional games to play this week.
That pair of contests begin today when Washington School of Greenville visits the IA field. Meanwhile, Friday has Pillow Academy of Greenwood coming to town.
Both games will commence at 6 p.m. each day.
In their most recent action, the highlight of the Colonels’ week occurred last Saturday when the pitching combo of Leland Selby and Conner Roncali rendered visiting North Delta School batters hitless in IA’s 10-0, six inning victory.
The week also began with a victory last Thursday when the Colonels earned a 14-4 decision over visiting Lee Academy of Clarksdale.
Helping to fuel this five inning win was the pitching of Wade Lang.
The senior righthander turned in his second strong outing of the young season as he allowed but three hits while striking out eight and walking three batters.
Sandwiched between this pair of victories was a tough 5-4 loss to Porter’s Chapel last Friday in Vicksburg.
In last Saturday’s shutout of North Delta School, the Colonels used a third inning, two-out rally to break open a scoreless game and take a 4-0 lead.
Photo by Paul Putnam
The Colonels then plated another four runs in the fourth frame to effectively put the game out of reach.
By game’s end, the Colonels accumulated 13 hits and were led by Cole Ferrell’s pair of doubles and a single; hits which also drove three runs across the plate.
Also having a productive day at the plate was Lang with three singles and a pair of RBI’s.
Meanwhile, Roncali helped his own pitching cause by immediately following a Ferrell RBI double with one of his own.
While the Colonels turned in an errorless defensive effort during this game, on the mound Selby was the starter in IA’s no-hit pitching effort. His two innings of work earned two strikeouts while also walking two Green Wave batters.
Roncali then earned the win on the mound as his four inning appearance netted three more strikeouts and a trio of base on balls.
Against Lee Academy last Thursday, the Colonels plated 11 runs over the course of the fourth and fifth inning to help take the game to its final 14-4 margin.
Leading IA’s seven hit attack was Selby, and the Holmes Community College commit hammered a solo home run to go along with his double.
Roncali also stroked a pair of singles to help pace the IA offensive efforts.
In their one run loss last Friday to Porter’s Chapel, the Colonels’ five hit attack was led by Selby’s three hits (double, 2 singles). Tyler Alford also contributed a double and a single while at the plate.
