ACCS can’t complete another comeback, falls to Franklin Co.

Published 12:06 am Thursday, March 14, 2013

Adams County Christian School starting pitcher Wade Simpson watches a pitch head toward home plate during the game against Franklin County on Wednesday evening. Franklin County won, 11-7. (Jay Sowers \ The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Christian School starting pitcher Wade Simpson watches a pitch head toward home plate during the game against Franklin County on Wednesday evening. Franklin County won, 11-7. (Jay Sowers \ The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — For a second, it looked like the Adams County Christian School baseball team had yet another comeback in them.

Fresh off a 10-9 win against Cathedral High School Tuesday, in which the Rebels won after trailing 9-4, ACCS saw itself with bases loaded and the tying run up to bat in the bottom of the seventh against Franklin County High School Wednesday.

But the Bulldogs induced a ground ball, and the throw-out at second ended the Rebels’ scoring threat as Franklin County hung on to win 11-7.

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“Honestly, I thought we came out flat,” ACCS head coach Hunter McKeivier said. “We weren’t prepared to play. Give all the credit to Franklin County: They hit well and played great defense.”

Franklin County base runner Hoby Mullins, right, dives back in to first base safely, as Adams County Christian School infielder Luke Thomas waits for the pickoff throw during the game on Wednesday evening at ACCS. (Jay Sowers \ The Natchez Democrat)

Franklin County base runner Hoby Mullins, right, dives back in to first base safely, as Adams County Christian School infielder Luke Thomas waits for the pickoff throw during the game on Wednesday evening at ACCS. (Jay Sowers \ The Natchez Democrat)

ACCS scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut an 11-4 lead down to four runs, something Franklin County head coach Brent Calcote said he was sweating until the last out.

“In high school baseball, no lead is safe,” Calcote said. “A ball in the gap there, and it’s a ball game. I’m nervous until it’s over with.”

The Bulldogs and Rebels both scored two runs in the first inning, but Franklin County’s bats blew up in the second inning as they strung off five more runs to take a 7-2 lead. ACCS added two more runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead 7-4, but McKeivier said it’s the same problem that’s been plaguing his team of late — big innings.

“Again, it’s that momentum factor, the snowball effect,” McKeivier said. “Errors hurt us. The focus wasn’t there today. I was hoping that after a big win we’d come out focused.”

Franklin County added two runs in the fifth and seventh innings to make it 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh. The Bulldogs tallied only seven hits but committed no errors, while the Rebels had four errors.

Ethan Verdin got the win for Franklin County, giving up three runs on three hits in five innings pitched. He also walked one, hit two batters and struck out six.

Wade Simpson took the loss for ACCS. He went four innings, giving up seven runs, four earned, and striking out four. Simpson also walked three and hit two batters.

Dylan Galbreath and Cody Rhinehart both went 2-for-4 for ACCS, and Brandon Ross was 2-for-2 with a home run. Derrick Brumfield, Graham Cowart and Caleb Fairley all doubled for Franklin County, and Cowart finished 2-for-3. Verdin had a triple for the Bulldogs.

Calcote said he was glad his offense showed up early but was a bit disappointed that they didn’t do as well after a big second inning.

“We hit the ball pretty well early, then we kind of had a let-down where we weren’t as intense as we should have been,” Calcote said.

Franklin County (3-3) will host Jefferson County High School March 22. ACCS (4-4) will play at Wilkinson County Christian Academy Monday.