The stage has now been set to determine who will be the 2019 District 1AAA baseball champion.
Playing the first of a three game series on their own field next Tuesday, the 13-4-1, 8-1 Indianola Academy Colonels will take on the Bayou Academy Colts of Cleveland at 6 p.m.
The final pair of games of this crucial series will then occur next Thursday at Bayou Academy.
However, Bayou Academy still has a pair of district games remaining to play versus Lee Academy of Clarksdale throughout the balance of this week; a pair of games which could alter the above expected scenario.
Additionally, a major result of claiming the series and the crown is earning home-field advantage in the opening round of the North AAA State Playoffs scheduled to begin the April 29 week.
In their most recent action Tuesday night, the Colonels claimed a home-field double header sweep of Kirk Academy from Grenada.
These 10-0 and 11-1 five inning victories aided in the bitter 6-5 road loss the Colonels suffered to the Raiders Monday night.
The IA pitching was effective in Tuesday’s twinbill sweep while the Colonels’ bats accumulated 21 hits over the course of the ten innings played.
This hitting attack was led by Wesley Lester’s three home runs in the second game; a feat which drove six runs across the plate.
The senior also delivered a triple and a single in the opening contest which saw pitcher Will Davis spin his shutout while surrendering only four hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
The Colonels would essentially score all the runs necessary to claim the game following back-to-back first inning doubles by Thomas Putnam and Josh Hill which helped push across three of the four runs scored in that first frame.
Along with Lester’s triple and double performance, Hill and Putnam (2 RBI’s) added a double and single apiece while Logan White (2 RBI’s) added a pair of singles.
In their 11-1 nightcap win, Reed Junkin went the distance on the mound as his four-hitter accumulated seven strikeouts and four walks.
At the plate, Lester’s three consecutive home runs was the highlight, but IA’s 10 hit attack was also led by a double and a single apiece from Davis, Josh Hill, and Putnam (2 RBI’s).
As for Monday night’s loss, the Colonels saw a seventh inning rally to take a 5-3 lead go for naught. Responding with a two-out rally, the Raiders used three walks, an error, an infield hit, and a walk-off bloop single to send three runs across the plate and claim the game.
The Colonels’ temporary go-ahead lead which erased a 3-2 deficit began with back-to-back singles by Putnam and Roberson.
After James Hill was hit by a pitch, Woods Toler delivered in the clutch by stroking a two-RBI single to right center. Hill would then later score on a Davis single to complete the rally.
At the plate, the Colonels’ six-hit attack was led by Toler’s pair of singles while Josh Hill delivered a first inning RBI double.
On the mound, Josh Hill went 6 2/3 innings while striking out 11, walking three, and giving up five hits.
