Like many Spring Break plans, Independence baseball’s itinerary included a trip to the beach. The only difference was that this Spring Break trip was purely business.
As one of several Mississippi high school teams taking part in the Battle of the Beach Invitational in Biloxi, the Wildcats competed against Central Hinds Academy, Pelahatchie, West Point and Tupelo Christian Prep. However, IHS would lose its first three games, only to salvage a win against TCPS last Wednesday.
In the 7-6 victory against the Eagles, the Wildcats used a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to bounce back from a 6-3 deficit. TCPS put up four runs in the top of the second, only for Independence to close the gap to 4-3, thanks to a three-run effort in the bottom of the third.
In the fifth, the Eagles plated two more runs to take the 6-3 lead, only for the Wildcats to strike back. Braylon Davis led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to right field, and base hits from Gavin Pierce and Levi Graham loaded the bases.
Staring down two outs and the potential to leave all three runs stranded, an error at second base allowed Davis and Pierce to score, trimming the deficit to a run. Eli Stepp would then give the Wildcats the lead, thanks to a single to center, scoring Cade Holts and Kaleb Kitchen for the go-ahead run.
TCPS would get a two-out single to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the top of the seventh, but offensive interference at the plate resulted in the third and final out, preserving the win for Independence.
Both teams combined for 19 hits in the game, with 11 coming from the bats of the Wildcats. Stepp went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, followed by two base hits each from Dallas Stepp and Miller Owens.
Merritt Owens pitched five complete innings, striking out four batters against two walks and six runs allowed, five of them unearned. Eli Stepp picked up the win in relief, tossing a strikeout and allowing no walks or runs in the final two innings.
However, Independence wasn’t as lucky in the previous three games of the tournament. In a 10-2 loss to Central Hinds Academy on March 10, the Wildcats surrendered six runs in the bottom of the third inning, turning a 1-1 tie into a 7-1 hole.
IHS tried to cut into the deficit by adding a run in the top of the fourth, but the Cougars tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth, sealing the game in run-rule fashion.
Independence was limited to just three base hits in the loss and the Wildcats used four different pitchers. Miller Owens struck out three batters in 2.2 frames, but allowed seven runs, though only one of those were earned. Stepp, Davis and Christian Hinson combined for the final three frames, with Davis and Henson tallying a strikeout each.
Two games resulted in two losses for IHS on March 11, but a 6-5 loss to Pelahatchie was the closest of the pair. Tied at 1-1 entering the third inning, both teams managed a single run in the third inning, keeping the score at 2-2.
Neither team scored again until the sixth, when the Wildcats collected three runs. However, the Chiefs responded with four of their own in the home half of the inning and shut down Independence in the top of the seventh.
Pelahatchie accounted for nine of the game’s 12 base hits, with Independence scattering all three of its hits through the lineup. Dallas Stepp pitched 5.1 frames for the Wildcats, garnering three strikeouts against a walk and three earned runs allowed.
In the second game, Independence dropped an 11-3 loss to West Point, despite finishing with eight base hits. The two teams were tied at 2-2 after the first, but the Green Wave scored at least one run in each of the next five innings.
Kitchen, Eli Stepp and D.J. Mitchell finished with two base hits apiece, including doubles from Kitchen and Stepp. Pierce tossed three complete innings on the mound, collecting four strikeouts while surrendering three walks, six earned runs and four base hits.
Davis, Hinson and Mitchell pitched the final 2.1 frames for Independence, with Davis and Mitchell earning one strikeout apiece.
Independence left the coast with a 5-7 overall record. The Wildcats will welcome Coahoma County on Friday, March 28 at 7 P.M., before hosting Rosa Fort on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 P.M.
