The score was one-sided, but both Polk County schools got valuable playing time Tuesday in a 20-0 Big Sandy win over Leggett.
Tuesday was just the second game of Leggett’s abbreviated season. They are playing a slate of district contests, while trying to begin a program. Seven of the games will be versus Class 2A competition. They did not have nine to challenge Hull-Daisetta a few weeks ago, but were able to take the field in a loss to Spurger.
Big Sandy scored seven runs in the bottom of the first, beginning with a triple by Daniel Barker. Jasper Hardy drove him in on an infield single, Ezekiel Angel walked and Corbin Cude drove in both with a double. Gus Hardy and Wyatt Lenox walked, Naki Thompson drove in two with a single and Brycen Holifield drove in two more with a base hit of his own.
It would be much more of the same in the second inning. Jasper Hardy was hit by a pitch, Kolten Glover drove him in with a double, Angel was hit by a pitch and Leggett called for Jace Railey to relieve Gavin Nichols.
A wild pitch scored a run, and a strikeout dropped and error at first sent another runner to third base and scored a run. Gus Hardy and Lenox walked, and another dropped strikeout scored a run. Holifield delivered a two-run triple, and a wild pitch scored him. Barker walked, Jasper Hardy was hit by a pitch, Glover slapped a two-run double, Cole Richardson was hit by a pitch, and Cude singled. Gus Hardy and Lenox walked to bring in runs, Thompson and Holifield singled, and Barker added to his RBI total with a base hit.
For Leggett, Nichols was solid on the mound, with most of his runs allowed unearned. Aspen Herr made a nice snag on a line drive at third base to save further damage.
Glover threw three spotless innings for the ‘Cats, getting many swings and misses.
Last year, the Pirates tried playing with nine until their catcher broke a hand, ending the season after a couple of games. The team lacks playing experience and is behind this season, in just their second time taking the field.
“They wanted to play baseball, but we only have two that have played baseball,” Leggett coach Ra’Shod Jefferson said. “The rest of them have never played baseball a game in their life. We got a field this year, because usually, we had to drive to Livingston to practice.”
Leggett now plays on campus behind the gymnasium. The field has been there for years, but not in any sort of playing shape. Friday will be the Pirates’ first time to host a baseball game on campus since 2014, as they take on Deweyville.
Big Sandy coach Will McInnis said his goal for Tuesday was to get as many players some experience as possible. The coach has a group of freshmen hungry for varsity play and key bench players ready for time on the field.
After being no hit by Danbury a few weeks ago, the Wildcats nearly pulled off a win over the Panthers just a few days later.
“We had Danbury on the ropes,” McInnis said of that Friday contest. “We led 1-0 through three, then they scored two in the bottom of the fourth and two in the bottom of the fifth. We scored a run in the top of the seventh and had bases loaded with one out, and just couldn’t get the runners across.
“We had a very good chance against them, but since that, we are 3-0.”
Big Sandy will face a few Class 1A schools in Hull-Daisetta and Spurger. They finish the regular season in a series with Evadale, then a final home-and-home with Deweyville.
McInnis said there will be a challenge going from 1A back to 2A competition, especially for an offense that looks for fastballs.
“We do a lot of intrasquad scrimmage. It is extremely hard. The harder they throw, the better we hit it. It is very difficult to keep them focused, especially when (the score) gets out of hand like that. But, hats off to Leggett. They had a great attitude, and they didn’t get down on themselves and just kept playing. They are very classy and a good group of kids.”
