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Adams County Christian's Josh Day laughs with his teammates during the baseball game against River field Academy. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Christian's Paul Cupstid runs to third Thursday during the baseball game against River field Academy. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Christian Matt Petty slides into third Thursday during the baseball game against River field Academy. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Christian's Paul Cupstid runs to home Thursday during the baseball game against River field Academy. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Christian's Josh Day stands on second base Thursday during the baseball game against River field Academy. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

By Garrett Kroeger

NATCHEZ — Adams County Christian School’s Josh Day took a deep breath and got into his normal batting position awaiting a throw by the Riverfield Academy pitcher. He was feeling confident. He was ready to face whatever pitch was thrown his way.

However, Day never had the opportunity to swing his bat or face a pitch. He was immediately told to take a base by the umpire.

“It was very frustrating to get intentionally walked,” Day said.

Although the senior Rebel wasn’t pleased getting a free base, he knew it was good sign. He knew the Raiders were worried about his hitting ability.

“It made me feel good about myself,” Day said. “It showed that they respect me.”

On Thursday night at home, ACCS claimed its fifth straight win thanks to a 8-2 victory over Riverfield Academy. Day’s performance against the Raiders was a major reason why the Rebels extended their win streak as he went 2-2 with a single and a home run.

After Day’s first two at bats, he was intentionally walked during his next two. Yet, those two free bases are considered hits in ACCS coach Matthew Freeman’s eyes.

“Anytime you have a guy that the opposing team doesn’t want to pitch too, and put him on base, that’s good,” Freeman said. “It’s frustrating for a 17-year-old kid to not get pitched to, but at the end of day that’s a hit in my book. He got to first base. That’s all I care about.

“If he doesn’t understand that they are walking him because of how good he is, then he isn’t thinking straight. That’s what it is.”

Freeman went on to add that Riverfield Academy’s plan was for some other ACCS player to beat them after deciding to intentionally walk Day every time he came up to bat. Luckily for the Rebels, other ACCS players’ bats came alive.

Both Gage Dossett and Jack Whitehead had doubles, and Whitehead knocked in three RBIs. Those two weren’t the only ones knocking in runners, as starting pitcher Jacob McDaniel made the most of his lone hit — he knocked in two RBIs.

“We swung the bat well tonight,” Freeman said.

While the Rebels’ bats were connecting all night long, Freeman also credits the team’s victory to the pitching performance by McDaniel.

On the night, McDaniel threw 90 pitches in six innings. Of those, McDaniel only allowed four hits, one run and struck out four batters.

“Our pitcher threw strikes,” Freeman said. “I have been preaching that our pitchers have to throw strikes to keep us in the ball game. No one likes walks. Those drag on the game and makes it frustrating for everybody out there.”

With the win, ACCS now heads into district play, as it opens with a doubleheader on Tuesday at 5 p.m. on the road against Silliman Institute. And with district play on the horizon, Freeman believes the Rebels really needed to build this type of momentum.

“I don’t like to make excuses, but we got a late start with basketball and soccer starting late., Freeman said. “We really needed this momentum booster heading into district play, coming up next week against Silliman. We will travel down there for a doubleheader and then come back (home) Friday for one game. We would like all three of those, but you at least got to get two out of three. You have to win the series.”

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