Before it was canceled due to weather, the North Sunflower Academy Rebels took two 11-1 losses in the first round of the Battle of the Delta Tournament this past Monday. Falling to both Kirk Academy and Winona Christian, the Rebels were fighting an uphill battle against the older teams with more players. But despite the lopsidedness, there was only one bad inning that doomed the Rebels in each game. Something that has plagued them all season.
“My guys embraced the challenge as much as they could and we had innings where we kept them scoreless,” Head Coach Anthony Rivera said. “We put up one in the first inning (against Kirk) but then they put up five to six runs and then it goes zero, zero, zero for several innings but one big hit or two and there’s the ballgame. Against Winona Christian we got up early but then gave up eight runs in the second innings but then scoreless innings. After that second inning my pitcher was getting it done with two or three pitches.”
And opponents are seeing the talent at NSA and keeping an eye on them.
“We’ll be a solid baseball club and that’s coming from the coaches at Kirk and Winona,” Coach Rivera said. “They gave us a lot of praise for a young team. We’re one inning away from being a great team. That lets me know in conference play is not like the teams we just played. If we lock in and play solid and limit the errors, we’ll be fine. It’s growing pains.”
Off this past week for spring break but putting in some practice, the Rebels will host Tunica Academy on Tuesday, March 21 at 4:00 p.m. and then travel to Tunica on Thursday, March 23. Coach Rivera is looking to keep his young team on track – especially mentally.
“I feel like they’ll get it the more situations I put them in and the more intense games we’re in, they’ll realize they need to grow. But for now, they are still seventh, eighth and ninth graders playing varsity ball trying to feel their way through the speed of the game. It’s kind of hard to tell an eighth grader who’s coming from travel ball to stay in there against this guy throwing 80 who’s going to Ole Miss.”
