Morgan Academy loses 3 of 4 games in marathon 2-day stretch

Published 7:00 am Wednesday, April 6, 2022

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Morgan Academy’s baseball team suffered three losses in four games played in a two-day span.

The Senators (15-6) fell to Pickens Academy, 7-5, and Ezekiel Academy, 8-4, in tournament play on Friday, and split a doubleheader with Fort Dale, a 6-0 win and 11-9 loss, on Thursday.

Morgan Academy head coach Stephen Clements said several factors contributed to Friday’s losses.

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“We had two normal starters not out (there), we had just played a doubleheader the day before, pitching wasn’t in the best position and fatigue just kind of got us a little bit,” he said.

Tied 4-all after four innings against Ezekiel Academy, the Knights brought home four runs in the fifth inning to secure the win.

Morgan Academy pitcher Hayden Roberts spent 4 1/3 innings on the mound. He allowed eight runs and nine of the Knights’ 10 hits. T.B. Clements pitched two-thirds of an inning to close the contest.

C.J. Crocker led Morgan Academy at the plate, going 2-for-3.

Pickens Academy pulled ahead with two runs to break 5-all stalemate in the fourth inning.

Clay Beers started on the mound for the Senators. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and four runs while striking out one.

Clements went 2-for-3 at the plate for Morgan Academy.

Coach Clements said the games played against Pickens Academy and Ezekiel Academy lasted four and five innings, respectively, due to tournament-imposed time limits.

In Game 2 against Fort Dale, the Senators fell short in a comeback bid despite scoring eight runs in a failed rally.

Clements, Davis Vardaman, John Allen Ingram, Crocker, Andrew Thomas and Matthew Hand contributed RBIs during the scoring surge.

Vardaman started on the mound for Morgan Academy. He pitched four innings, allowing three hits and five runs while striking out five.

Crocker led the Senators in hits, going 2-for-4 at the plate.

Thomas pitched a complete game shutout in the opener against Fort Dale, striking out 11 batters and allowing five hits.

“I thought we played really well in Game 1,” Coach Clements said. “Thomas was lights out on the mound. He has really pitched well for us this year. I thought we let our foot off the gas in Game 2, but I really like the way our guys kept fighting and scratching to put ourselves in a position to win a shootout.”

Coach Clements said the victory in Game 1 of the doubleheader clinched the series win for the Senators.