A 17-0 win over Marvell Academy qualified the North Sunflower Academy Rebels for the MAIS baseball post-season. Rebel Head Coach Anthony Rivera isn’t greedy but is looking to move up to a better seed at the same time.
“Rebels are in the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row,” Coach Rivera said. With five games left, we have DeSoto next week at home. We look to upset the #1 team in the district and try to move up in seeding.”
Of those five, three are district games. The Rebels have steadily improved their young team over the season, but learning lessons off the field is just as important to the coaching staff. With the recent tornado disasters in neighboring Humphreys and Sharkey counties, the Rebels reached out with help for their competitors and their families.
“The events that took place in Rolling Fork and Silver City touch my heart,” Coach Rivera said. “I was talking to my coaches about it and we realized that it could've been us on the other side of the storm. How blessed we were and that those people needed our help in any way we could.”
The Sunday after the storms, the Rebels practiced on the field and then practiced off the field what they’ve learned.
“We loaded up our guys on the bus with water, clothes, shoes and other supplies and we headed down to Rolling Fork and Silver City to help out. It was a humbling experience for my team and myself and my staff. We will never forget what we saw.”
The team will make another run for their competitors this weekend and the entire school has been collecting needed supplies for the stricken residents.
“We have people and students bringing in stuff daily to the school. Our whole team has been there to help,” he said.
Making the playoffs and hitting home runs in the real world by helping those in need, the North Sunflower Academy baseball team.
