In what has become an annual custom for the Magnolia Heights baseball program, the Chiefs and coach Chris McMinn once again took the MAIS Class AAAAA North Half title last week, sweeping Simpson Academy.
Last Monday, MHS took a 4-2 victory in the first game of the series, before turning around for a 10-4 triumph in the second game in Mendenhall on Wednesday.
In the opening game of the series, both teams went scoreless through the first three innings before the Cougars struck first on Barrett McKenney’s solo home run that led off the top of the fourth inning.
Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Chiefs woke up the bats, tacking on four quick runs. A leadoff walk to Reggie Reed set the wheels in motion, while Quincy Pratt followed up reaching a base on an error.
With runners on the corners and one out, Harlin Hovater tied up the game with an RBI-double, and back-to-back walks allowed MHS to gain a 2-1 lead. A sacrifice fly from Ethan Barnes and an RBI-single from Preston Sowell scored the next two runs, pushing the lead to 4-1.
Sowell also tossed a scoreless sixth inning on the mound, but the Chiefs ran into trouble in the top of the seventh, as the Cougars tried to rally back. Simpson Academy led off the inning with a walk and a single, before going down with two quick outs. Brayden Duncan hit an RBI-single to close the gap to 4-2, putting the tying run on first base. However, Gage Smith grounded out into a 6-3 putout, ending the threat and sealing the series lead for Magnolia Heights.
Both teams finished with five hits on the afternoon, with Sowell finishing 2-for-3 and earning the save. Brayden McKnight pitched the fifth inning in relief, earning the victory, while Cole Prosek pitched the first four innings with two strikeouts.
Wednesday’s second game was closer than the final score indicated. MHS opened things up with a three-run frame in the top of the first, only for Simpson Academy to respond with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second. The Chiefs plated a run in the top of the third, but the Cougars did the same in the home half of the inning, as both teams went the fourth tied up at 4-4.
From there, it was all Magnolia Heights, as the Chiefs tacked on two in the fourth, three in the fifth and one more in the top of the seventh, all while keeping the Cougars off the board the rest of the way.
Both teams combined for 22 base hits, with 13 of those coming from MHS. Pratt went 4-for-5 to lead the Chiefs’ efforts at the plate, while Hovater finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs. Prosek and Ethan Barnes each collected a home run in the win.
On the mound, Hovater pitched five complete innings with three strikeouts.
With the series win, Magnolia Heights will face Oak Forest Academy for the MAIS Class AAAAA state championship this week. The first game is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 P.M. in Senatobia, with the second game scheduled for a 5 P.M. start time on Friday in Amite City, La. If necessary, the two teams will play Game 3 on Saturday at 5 P.M. in Senatobia.
