Southland Academy Baseball Team sweeps doubleheader

Published 5:58 pm Monday, March 2, 2020

CORDELE –The Southland Academy Varsity Baseball Team (SA) got the 2020 season off to a good start as they defeated Dodge County (DC) 4-2 and throttled the Cougars of Crisp County 15-2 on Saturday afternoon, February 29, at the Crisp County High School (CCHS).

In the first game against the Indians of DC, SA catcher Tyler Kennedy went 2 for 5 at the plate. His first hit in the top of the second inning was a double that drove in Alex Bell for the first run of the game.

After Owen Exley singled in the top of the third with one out and a man on third, Clay Owens hit a fly ball and reached on an error by DC right fielder Landin Crummey. That allowed Chase Ledger to score from third and gave the Raiders a 3-0 advantage.

Southland Academy shortstop Hunter McCain went 2 for 4 at the plate with two singles and an RBI in the Raiders’ 4-2 win over Dodge County.
Photo by Ken Gustafson

The Raiders added their third and final run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Kennedy belted a triple into center field. Hunter McCain would later single to right field, scoring Kennedy to give SA a 4-0 lead.

The Indians threatened in the bottom of the seventh by scoring two runs, but the Raiders were able to hang on and win 4-2.

McCain started on the mound for the Raiders and pitched three innings. He gave up no runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Exley came on in relief of McCain in the third inning. He gave up two runs on three hits, walked two and struck out two in 3.1 innings pitched. Luke Law came in and got the final out to end the game.

Southland Academy pitcher Luke Law closed out the game against Dodge County. Law also went 1 for 4 at the plate with a single against the Indians.
Photo by Ken Gustafson

The Raiders scored four runs on 10 hits and committed one error, while DC scored two runs on six hits and committed five errors.

In Game 2 against Crisp County, the host school, Kennedy drove in five RBIs on three hits to power the Raiders to a 15-2 victory over the Cougars.

Hunter McCain fields a ground ball at shortstop and throws out the last DC hitter to end the game.
Photo by Ken Gustafson

SA scored one run in the top of the first and three in the second to take a 4-0 lead, but the big deluge of runs came in the top of the third. With one out, Bell got an RBI single, driving in a run. Kennedy then later drove in two more runs on a double to left field, followed by an RBI single from Owens that scored Greer Hagerson.

McCain then reached on an error, allowing Owens to score and giving the Raiders a 9-0 lead.

SA scored two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to seal their 15-2 victory.

Three Raiders got multiple hits in this game. Kennedy was 3 for 4 at the plate with two doubles, a single and five RBIS. Owens went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and three RBIs and Chase Ledger went 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Southland second baseman Alex Bell went 1 for 3 against Dodge County and went 1 for 2 with three runs scored and two RBIs in the Raiders 15-2 win over Crisp County.
Photo by Ken Gustafson

The Raiders used three pitchers in this game. Ledger started on the mound and pitched three innings, giving up no runs on two hits. He walked one batter and struck out four. Greer Hagerson came in relief of Ledger and pitched 1.1 innings. Hagerson gave up two runs on no hits, walked two batters and struck out two.

Henry Johnson came in to close out the game. He pitched 0.2 innings, giving up one hit and one walk.

The Raiders will try to continue their winning ways when they travel up to Perry to take on the Hornets of Westfield on Tuesday, March 3. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.