MRA's 7-3 series-clinching win over Jackson Academy sets up showdown with Prep
JACKSON — MRA is headed back to the MAIS Class 6A state championship series, and they'll face a familiar foe when they get there.
Behind the pitching of sophomore Drew Lambert and some timely hitting the Patriots got past rival Jackson Academy 7-3 to sweep the series in Game 2 of the Semifinal Round of the MAIS Class 6A baseball playoffs at Raider Field on Wednesday night.
MRA (35-4) will face rival Jackson Prep for the MAIS Class 6A State Championship next week beginning at Prep next Tuesday night.
Prep (29-6) swept MRA in the 2021 State Championship Series.
But the way the Patriots are pitching and swinging the bats, expectations are high going into next week.
“Drew pitched his tail off tonight. He did a great job,” said MRA coach Allen Pavatte. “Last time he was on this field, he didn’t make it out of the third inning and he had a rough outing, and he learned from it. Tonight he pitched well and let the defense play behind him.”
Lambert (8-0) tossed six innings, scattering four hits, allowed no runs, walked three and had three strikeouts.
“Great team win. Felt good on the mound tonight and my arm felt great,” Lambert said. “Came in tonight with a plan to attack hitters away, and it worked out. Fast ball and change up, low and away were my go-to pitches.”
MRA didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning, as Conner Stewart hit a solo home run to left center give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.
MRA tacked on four runs in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 5-0, highlighted by a two-run single by Corey Watkins and back-to-back RBI singles from Kaleb Lipscomb and Peyton Martin.
Martin added a two-run single to left to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead in the top of the sixth.
Martin, Watkins and Nicholas Arnold all had two hits each to lead MRA offensively.
“We struggled early with timing, but we adjusted and had some big two out hits,” Pavatte said. “Two out hits win championships and that’s what our goal is. Our goal is to get to a state championship and win it and now we’re here. We are going to try our very best to win it.”
Jackson Academy scored all three runs in the bottom of the seventh on a throwing error and two-run double by Mississippi State signee Dakota Jordan.
Jordan and Joseph Ciaccio had two hits to lead the Raiders (21-14). Grayson Lee (4-3) took the loss on the mound for JA.
“We had chances tonight and didn’t get the timely hit,” said Jackson Academy coach Parker Harris. “Give their guy credit he competed on the mound tonight. Proud of our kids for battling to the end like they have all season.”
