Although the recent bout of winter weather wreaked havoc on the baseball and softball schedules in north Mississippi, things were clear enough last Saturday for Magnolia Heights to open its season in Jackson against Starkville Academy.
Unfortunately, the season-opener didn’t go as planned for the Chiefs as Starkville Academy pulled out the 10-6 victory, dropping MHS to 0-1 on the season.
Starkville Academy opened the contest with two runs in the top of the first inning and added five more in the second, creating a comfortable 7-0 lead.
After a scoreless third inning, the Chiefs finally got some momentum in the bottom of the fourth and put three runs on the board. However, the Vols would pull away once more with a three-run fifth inning that expanded the lead to 10-3.
Magnolia Heights would get one last boost in the bottom of the sixth with another three-run frame, but it wasn’t enough to spark a full comeback, as the Vols’ pitching staff held MHS scoreless in the seventh.
Despite the loss, the Chiefs outhit Starkville Academy 10-8 and committed no errors. Cooper Pratt led Magnolia Heights with two hits and Jackson Jenkins drove in a team-best two RBIs. Micah McGee and Cooper McNeel led the Vols with two hits apiece.
Ethan Coley lasted 2.1 innings on the mound for the Chiefs, striking out four batters. Pratt also saw action on the mound and struck out three Starkville Academy batters. John Paul Buckner picked up the win for the Vols and finished with eight strikeouts.
Magnolia Heights will return to the field on Thursday, February 25 at Kirk Academy. First pitch in Grenada is slated for 4 p.m.
