There was no shortage of runs for coach Jordan Edwards and the Independence Wildcats over the past week.
In three wins against North Panola and West Memphis Christian School, the Wildcats combined to outscore their opponents 43-4, as IHS improved to 8-7 on the season.
Independence started off the hot week with a 20-3 win at North Panola last Tuesday, using an 11-run fifth inning to clinch the run-rule win. The Wildcats led 4-0 after the first inning of play, and tacked on an extra run in the top half of the second.
North Panola held Independence scoreless in the third inning, but the Wildcats added four runs in the fourth, before breaking the game open with the 11-run fifth inning. The Cougars did spoil the shutout with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth, but it did nothing to stop the run-rule.
Independence finished the contest with 11 base hits and North Panola was charged with a whopping 11 errors. Miller Owens went 4-for-5 at the plate with a double and four RBIs, and D.J. Mitchell hit a pair of home runs with a team-high five RBIs.
Owens pitched four of the five innings for the Wildcats, striking out 10 batters against two walks and no base hits allowed. Brandon Dabbs pitched the final inning of relief, earning a strikeout with no walks surrendered.
Both teams squared off again last Friday in Independence, but things didn’t go much better for the Cougars, as the Wildcats earned a 13-0 shutout. IHS opened the game with a 3-0 lead, before adding two more runs in the bottom of the second.
Leading 5-0 entering the third inning, the Wildcats then scattered eight runs over the next two frames, ending the game in a four-inning run-rule.
Independence was held to seven base hits in the win, but North Panola also committed eight errors. Austin Eddie finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, leading the charge at the plate for the Wildcats.
Eli Stepp pitched all four innings for Independence, racking up 10 strikeouts against a pair of walks and one base hit.
In Saturday’s 10-1 victory against West Memphis Christian School, the Wildcats broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning, taking a 3-0 advantage. However, things really escalated in the fifth, when IHS added seven runs and widened the gap to 10-0.
West Memphis Christian responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but that would be all for the Black Knights. The Wildcats finished the game with just three base hits, as WMCS committed five errors.
Merritt Owens pitched five full innings for Independence, earning a strikeout against four walks, a base hit and an unearned run.
Independence will return to action on Friday, March 28 against Coahoma County. The game will be at IHS and is scheduled for a 7 P.M. first pitch.
