3/22/2006 4:53:00 PM Raiders 10-run rule Jackson Prep
By JON HILLARD
Sports Editor
Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep have long been competitive rivals, but this school year has been dominated by JA when it comes to the major boys sports.
By defeating the Patriots 12-2 at Patriot Field Friday afternoon – the second time in 2006 that JA has handily beaten Prep on the diamond – the Raiders (11-1) laid claim to the top spot in the baseball rivalry, which they haven’t done in a while.
Jackson Prep, headed by Trey Bayliss, has won the last three Academy AAA state championships, but the loss of eight seniors from last year’s Patriots squad and a 3-3 start by this year’s team has allowed other contenders to emerge, namely JA.
“I think it is our year,” JA junior Logan McDowell said after going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. “(Beating Prep twice) has built our confidence up really well.”
The Raiders’ runs came off only nine hits in the five-inning game, but they made the Prep pitchers pay for giving up 10 bases on balls. Seven of the 10 walks turned into runs, and twice a JA batter was walked with the bases loaded.
Brent Gay picked up the win for JA, as he threw all five innings and looked as though he could go longer. He struck out only three batters, but he induced nine fly-outs and scattered five hits to allow just one earned run.
“When Brent gets his mental game going, he’s an excellent pitcher,” JA coach Doug Lycette said of the junior hurler.
Prep starter John Shelton Mullens, who was pulled in the second inning before recording another out, gave up four walks and five earned runs en route to the loss.
The game’s most valuable performance was turned in by JA’s David Mooney, who had three doubles and six RBI’s in the victory. His extra-base hit to right-center field with the bases loaded in the first inning drove all three baserunners home to give the Raiders a 4-0 lead.
In the fourth, he doubled again – this time to left-center – to bring home a pair of runs and give JA an 8-2 advantage.
Fittingly, Mooney got the game’s final RBI in the top of the fifth when he crushed a ball that didn’t quite have the height to clear the right-field wall. McDowell scored easily from second on the play to give JA the 10-run advantage and put the pressure on Prep to avoid the mercy rule.
Fortunately for the Raiders, the Prep tournament allowed them to quickly avenge their first loss of the season, which came to Hillcrest Christian the day before. JA got to play twice on Friday to get the losing taste out of the players’ mouths.
In the early game, the Raiders beat Porter’s Chapel Academy 4-2.
“That was good for us,” Lycette said. “We did just enough to get by with Porter’s Chapel, and I think we woke up a little bit for Prep.”
McDowell added that the Hillcrest lost made the Raiders get over any feelings of invincibility.
Still, it appears for now that JA has a legitimate shot at sweeping the big three in high school sports. The Raiders won the football state title in December and the Overall basketball championship last month.
“We’re solid everywhere, and we’re experienced everywhere,” Lycette said. “We are pretty well-rounded.”
The Raiders take on another local rival this evening when Madison-Ridgeland Academy visits Raider Park at 6:30 p.m.
