One can almost be reminiscent of the lyrics to the Jerry Reed song from the movie Smokey and the Bandit, “We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there, east bound just watch old Bandit run.” And indeed, it has been a car chase of a season as the Cats picked up 11 losses before laying the hammer down with 8 straight district victories on their way to an 8-0 record in 3A region 2 Mississippi High school Baseball.
Independence faced Alcorn Central at home for game 1 of the best of 3 opening round series.
The Cats started Jayden Watkins on the mound and the senior ace faced 29 batters in 5.2 innings of pitching. Watkins gave up 10 hit, walking 1, and striking out 4 before surrending the mound to fellow senior Hayes Freeman in relief. Freeman pitched 1.1 innings for the Wildcats striking out 3 and allowing no runs.
Alcorn took an early lead scoring 2 runs in the top half of the first iunning. Independence would shortened Alcorn’s lead in the home half of scoring a lone run to make it 2-1 in favor of the Bears. Alcorn added another run in the second and this time the Cats were unable to answer back leaving the score 3-1. In fact, the bats remained silent on both sides of the diamond remained silent until the Bears pushed their lead 4-1. This ignited the Cats offense however, and IHS battered Alcorn pitcher, Robby Canten for 4 runs resulting in a 5-4 lead going into the 6th inning.
The Bears were not done however, and the top of their line-up added 2 runs in the top of the 6th to regain the lead 6-5. The Bear lead was short lived however as the Wildcats scored the game;s final 2 runs and then held on through the 7th to win7-6.
D’Narrion Mitchell had 3 hits for IHS driving in 3 runs in his 4 appearnces at the plate, Bryson Davis had 2 hits, 1 RBI followed by Jayden Watkins, Hayes Freeman, and Braylon Davis who each contributed a hit in the Wildcats opening game play-off win.
There was still more baseball to be played in the opening round of the play-offs and the following day the road weary Cats travelled to Glen, MS to face Alcorn Central for game 2 of the best of 3 series . This time the Wildcats would start Landyn Lindsey on the mound and the Bears would counter with Reed Johnson.
Lindsey held Alcorn scoreless in their half of the first inmixing allowing the visiting Wildcats to hold on to a 1-0 lead. The Bears seemed to settle into a groove from that point, methodically adding 2 runs in the home half of each remaining inning. Lindsey would surrender the mound to Hayes Freeman who faced 5 batters giving up 1 run as he got the Cats out of the 5th inning. From that point the workhorse of the series, DJ Mitchell commanded the mound facing 11 batters allowing just 3 runs on 4 hits.
The Cats were unable to keep up the pace offensively though they added a run in the top of the 4th , 2 runs in the 6th , and another lone run in the game’s final inning for a final score of 10-5 in favor of the Bears.
The Alcorn Victory would push the opening round play-off series to a third game to be hosted at Independence High School. The game was originally scheduled for Monday, April 25 however inclimate weather has caused the contest to be rescheduled for Tuesday, April 26 at 6 pm. The winner of this series will advance to round 2 of the Mississippi High School Baseball Championship Play-offs.
