Bruce Branch didn’t panic.
The Heritage Academy baseball coach knew Mother Nature wasn’t doing his team or any other squads in the state any favors early in the season keeping it from getting outdoors.
Branch also knew the Patriots had the potential, even though struggles to start the season appeared to put the team a long way away from realizing its goal of getting back to the postseason.
But things have come together nicely. The return of Parker Dunaway from an injury, the emergence of Hunter Ward on the mound and Garrett Hall at catcher, the consistency of James Clark, and solid contributions up and down the lineup have helped Heritage Academy earn a return engagement to the postseason.
That journey will start at 6 tonight when Heritage Academy (18-12) plays host to Starkville Academy in game one of their best-of-three Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, Division II series.
“It was mainly defensively we weren’t playing well,” Branch said when asked what accounted for his team’s slow start. “We were averaging four or five errors a game. I think it was a lack of being able to get outside on a consistent basis and get the number of reps our guys need.”
Branch admitted there was frustration that the team didn’t start quicker. But he said the players stayed focused and knew they had to work harder to work the kinks out and turn the corner.
Hall, who hits in the leadoff spot, has anchored a staff that includes right-handers Ward and Clark. He also threw a one-hitter in a spot start against Pickens Academy.
“I think last year we had a lot of success early,” Hall said. “I think this year we came out sometimes thinking it was going to be given to us, or we didn’t need to work as hard as we did last year. As the season went on, we figured out we’re going to have to work harder and earn it ourselves.”
M.J. Hamrick, Hayden Higginbotham, Clark Atkins, and Clark have provided run production in the middle of the lineup. Branch said Tyler Marchak has provided stability in the outfield and that Thomas DeGrange has come on late in the season to stabilize the infield at second base.
Dunaway watched from the bench as things finally came together. He, too, could tell the potential was there and believed the team would rebound.
“Defensively, we weren’t very strong. We were making a lot of errors,” Dunaway said. “We had glimpses of greatness, and were playing good as a team a lot of time, but we weren’t putting it all together. As we got out on the field and got more reps, that helped us and we cut out a lot of our errors.”
Branch said the Patriots have done a better job of getting Clark more run support and their offense has come alive late in the season. He said the team is looking forward to playing a rival in the playoffs for a chance to play for a state title.
“I am excited about it,” Branch said. “It has been a rivalry for us, and that adds a little extra to it. The atmosphere here (tonight) should be awfully exciting.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.