Riverfield blanks ACCS

Published 12:22 am Sunday, March 28, 2010

NATCHEZ — Sometimes it just isn’t your day.

For the Adams County Christian baseball team, the off day came Saturday afternoon, as Riverfield Academy had its way with Rebels pitching to the tune of a 17-0 shutout in five innings.

ACCS head coach Hunter McKeivier was quick to take the blame for the blowout loss, saying he didn’t have his team mentally ready to play.

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“It’s really simple: That was the worst coaching job I’ve done in my whole career,” McKeivier said.

“I should have had my boys better prepared, more mentally ready. I don’t take anything away from Riverfield, but we’re 10 times better than what we showed today.

“I take all the blame. In this game, you have to be prepared day in and day out. I vow that this won’t happen again.”

Both teams went scoreless in the first inning before Riverfield scored two runs in the second, and three in the third. Its big inning, however, came in the top of the fourth, when the Raiders knocked in nine runs, capped off by a Kyle Booth grand slam.

Riverfield also tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Booth finished 2-for-4 for the Raiders, and Logan Moore went 3-for-4.

ACCS (9-8, 4-2), meanwhile, had no multiple hitters. Christopher Perry and Tanner Martin both doubled for the Rebels.

The Raiders’ Dakota Moss got the win, pitching all five innings. ACCS’ Brandon Sanders took the loss.

“Dakota changed speeds really well, and threw strikes,” Raiders head coach Joe Meeks said. “He’s been having trouble throwing strikes, but he did well today. He has a good changeup, curveball and fastball, and being left-handed certainly has an advantage.”

Meeks also said he was pleasantly surprised that his team did so well in the batter’s box.

“They had prom last night, so I didn’t know if they’d even see the ball or not, but they did,” Meeks said.

With the win, Riverfield moves to 14-0 on the season.

“We’ve gotten a little lucky,” Meeks said.

McKeivier, meanwhile, said his team struggled with its decision-making on defense.

“Not knowing whether or not to be the cutoff man, backing up the pitcher on a passed ball or a throwback from the catcher, just small things,” McKeivier said. “The saying goes that small things can turn into big things, and they came back and bit us in the butt today.

“Earlier today, we played two tough teams and lost, but even then, I was excited about our effort in those games. Today was a totally different outcome for us.”

And McKeivier said he’s not sure what happened, but added that he doesn’t think his team was intimidated taking on an undefeated opponent.

“I’m not going to make excuses for them. I think they’re very smart and talented. Could (their) record have had something to do with it? Maybe, but we only lost 10-9 to them in Rayville, so I thought we knew we could play with them. I guess it just wasn’t our day.”