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Adams County Christian School’s Jack Whitehead, center, leads a team huddle Thursday during his team’s win over Cathedral. Whitehead hit a grand slam in the win, 18-12. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

(Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

(Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Cathedral’s Joseph Garrity cheers on his team as it attempts a comeback Thursday. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Christian School’s Alex McCready rounds the bases Thursday during his team’s win over Cathedral at ACCS in Natchez. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

On Thursday afternoon, the Cathedral School Green Wave baseball team took on their crosstown rival the Adams County Christian School Rebels in Game 2 of the three contest district series.

For the second straight night, the Green Wave gave it all they could to try and take down the Rebels. However, Cathedral came up short once again, losing 18-12 in seven innings.

“Our goal was to prolong the game,” said Cathedral coach Craig Beesley. “We wanted to get pitch counts on their pitchers.”

While the Green Wave did that, they did much more. After being down 11-0 following the first inning, Cathedral did not bend and break. It fought back and made the game interesting.

Due to having to play Game 3 of the series after Game 2, ACCS coach Matthew Freeman decided to pull starting pitcher Jacob McDaniel after the first. The decision would go on to haunt Freeman and the Rebels in the second and third innings.

“I pulled Jacob because I wanted to save him for Game 3,” Freeman said. “I have to live with the decision as the head coach that I made. The pitchers that came in there just weren’t able to throw strikes. We had eight walks in (the third inning). That’s obviously, for anyone who knows baseball, that’s a recipe for disaster.

“It gave (Cathedral) confidence and allowed them to stay in the game.”

It did turn out to be disastrous for ACCS, as Cathedral was able to cut the Rebels lead to 12-9 after the third inning. However, the Green Wave wasn’t done carving into their rival’s lead.

“It means a lot to these kids to show that they don’t roll over when we get down 11-0,” Beesley said. “We were patient. We got back into the game.”

During the top of the sixth, Cathedral got all to within one run of ACCS’ lead, 13-12. But that would be the closest Green Wave would get to the Rebels lead, as the blue and white’s Jack Whitehead jacked a grand slam over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth. Plus, ACCS would tack on two more runs in the inning as well.

“Just an unlucky grand slam,” said Cathedral senior third baseman Caden Poole.

While Beesley was primarily pleased with his team’s performance, he wasn’t 100-percent happy. Since they got so close to tying or gaining a lead, he was a little disappointed that the Green Wave couldn’t claim the win.

Despite not being able to capture lead, Beesley was happy to see his team fight back and give the Rebels all that they could handle — considering what might have happened if this series taken place earlier this season.

“This team has come so far this year,” Beesley said. “Earlier in the year, we would have rolled over if we were down 11-0. They are growing up a little bit. They are still young, but they are growing up baseball wise.”

Although the Green Wave were proud of their efforts in Game 2 of the series, the Rebels were frustrated that they even allowed their rivals to get back into the contest.

“It’s very frustrating,” Freeman said. “We definitely did all we could to allow them back into the game. They earned it no doubt. But it’s still something that we gave them. Not to take anything from (Cathedral), but we have to do a better job in throwing strikes and making routine plays.”

ACCS was able to clean up its play and Cathedral suffered its worst loss in the series, as the Rebels took Game 3, 13-3.

“We wanted to get the sweep,” Freeman said. “It will help our chances in the playoffs.”

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