The Trojans offense went from being downright dominant to playing peek-a-boo in three home games in a four-day stretch.
West Marion (4-5) pounded out 16 hits and drew five walks in a 16-11 win over Forrest County AHS Friday night but had just five hits across 16 innings Saturday and Monday in losses to South Jones and Columbia Academy.
Miles Maliden and Travis Little paced the Trojans with two hits and 4 RBI each in West Marion’s win over the Aggies Friday. Josh Boone had three singles, Gabe Miller ripped two singles and drove in a pair and Tre Broom had a pair of hits and an RBI. Mason Parrett also had two hits, and Jayden Duncan, Jacob Pounds and Brian Blakeney all had an RBI base knock.
Broom has been hitting right handed this year after struggling from the left side as a freshman last year. Jerkins said he can really swing it from both sides, but Broom has run into a lot of bad luck hitting balls on the nose but right at someone.
Duncan lasted just two innings striking out five but allowing four runs on four hits, three walks and two home runs. Blakeney picked up the win with four strikeouts while allowing two runs over 3 1/3 innings, and Cooper Foxworth and Boone also pitched in relief.
Against South Jones Saturday, the Trojans were locked into a great pitcher’s duel as they played eight innings of scoreless baseball. However, the Braves finally broke through in the top of the ninth inning with two runs to steal a 2-0 win. Tre Broom tossed seven shutout innings before being lifted with his pitch count near 100, and Little finished the game in relief.
Then Monday night, despite drawing eight walks and scoring four runs, the Trojans were no-hit by Columbia Academy in a 9-4 loss.
“Friday night we saw two really good arms and got 16 hits, then Saturday we didn’t see a great arm and hit a bunch of balls right at people and (Monday) night I thought Tate Duncan threw the ball really well, especially from the left-hand side,” head coach Derrick Jerkins said. “I thought we were a bit fatigued playing three games in four days; the bats looked a little slow last night. I think the more games that we play the more consistent (hits) will come. We have some guys in the lineup that were playing their ninth varsity game.”
Jerkins added that when the weather eventually dries up and the Trojans get to take batting practice on the field, they should hit more consistently. They have only been able to hit in the cages during practice.
The Trojans have had a number of pitchers have good outings so far, including Blakeney pitching into the seventh inning Monday against CA, but Jerkins said they still have another level they can reach.
“The biggest thing with our pitching staff is we just need to throw more strikes. I think we have the talent on our staff and guys definitely have the stuff, and if we can throw strikes I think we can compete, especially in 3A baseball,” he said.
He added it’s not always about walks but that consistently having to go deep in counts to get batters out raises pitch counts and forces a call to the bullpen.
West Marion played at Forrest County AHS Tuesday night in a rematch, but results were unavailable at press time. The Trojans will be back at home Friday night to play host to Purvis before starting district play at home against Jeff Davis County Tuesday.
Pictured Above: West Marion leadoff man Josh Boone watches a pitch during the first inning against Columbia Academy Monday night. The Trojans have struggled to find consistency at the plate, but Boone is batting .444. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
