Austin Braddock wasn”t perfect on the mound Thursday afternoon in the Heritage Academy baseball team”s 9-1 win against Jackson Academy. The senior right-hander gave up hits to start his first few innings. Yet it”s how Braddock handled his pitches after those hits that made his performance a memorable one for Patriots fans at Trip Carson Field. Three days after his baseball team lost 10-0 at Jackson Academy, he returned the favor at home, scattering seven hits in six innings to help Heritage Academy secure the top seed in Class AAA, Division II by winning the first game of a doubleheader.
Braddock (7-0) faced bases-loaded situations in the third and sixth, and in the third, fourth, and fifth faced runners on second and third. He escaped every time, utilizing his fastball for most of his 13 strikeouts.
“I came back a lot stronger from arm surgery, so my fastball has gained a lot of velocity,” said Braddock, who endured Tommy John surgery 18 months ago. “I throw it outside and inside to keep hitters off balanced.”
Braddock said he has felt fully recovered from the medical procedure since mid-January, which is a good sign for the Patriots as they prepare for the playoffs next Tuesday. Heritage Academy (23-8) will enter the postseason for the first time since 2009.
Performances like Braddock”s on the mound Thursday could allow the Patriots to make a postseason run. Like most teams, they are only as good as their starting pitching.
“It”s what we”ve seen all year,” Heritage Academy coach Bruce Branch said. “He”s been the backbone of our team. We feel like when he”s on the mound we can play with anybody.”
Braddock, who will play college baseball next year at East Mississippi Community College, also helped at the plate. In the first, he drove in two runs with a double down the left-field line. In the second, he drove in another run by walking with the bases loaded.
Braddock”s teammates did the rest, scoring two runs in each other first four innings and the final run in the sixth. Garrett Hall and Matt Sykes drove in two runs apiece and Heritage Academy squeezed every bit of offense it could out of just seven hits. Jackson Academy had eight hits.
“When he”s pitching, we just feel comfortable, relaxed because he”s a leader on our team,” senior infielder Tyler Farnham said. “He consistently throws strikes, setting up ground balls where we can make routine plays.”
That”s not to say everything always goes his way. In the second game, Heritage Academy trailed 7-4 before rallying late. After tying the score in the sixth, Jackson Academy regained the lead, scoring one run in the seventh. But Heritage Academy”s Clark Atkins slammed a shot to deep left field, giving the Patriots runners on second and third with one out.
But Hall popped to relief pitcher Michael Martin, who then hunted down Braddock, who was caught too far off third.
“That”s the aggressiveness of him, wanting to come up with the big run in a big situation,” Branch said. “I can”t be mad at him … it”s part of the game.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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