Ackerman faces Belmont in third round

Sports

April 29, 2009

By Austin Bishop The Star Herald Wed Apr 29, 2009, 09:07 AM CDT

If you don't believe Ackerman plays in a good baseball district, just take a close look at the four remaining teams in the north half of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs.

Region 2-2A teams joining Ackerman in the hunt for the North State Championship are Hamilton and Water Valley, who will be facing each other in a best-of-three series beginning Friday.

The Indians of AHS have their own mission to take care of when they face Belmont in a best-of-three series beginning at Ackerman at 6 p.m. on Friday. Game two is Saturday at 2 p.m. in Belmont with the if-necessary game set for Monday in Ackerman at 6 p.m.

"I see them as being dangerous," AHS head coach Brad Mitchell said of the Belmont Cardinals. "They are going to hit the ball. They have good pitching and they will be extremely well coached."

And then there is one of the most important factors when it comes to playoff baseball. "They are hot at the right time,” Mitchell said.

But, of course, so are the Indians.

Ackerman goes into Friday night's game with a 19-7 overall mark and is trying to reach the North State Championship Series for the second consecutive year. The Indians swept the first two rounds of the 2009 playoffs in two straight games each time.

"I tell the guys all the time that we can't rely on the long ball," Mitchell said. "But, we've been getting a lot of homers, and that's a good thing."

The Indians have also been riding some strong pitching by Andrew Furr and Nick Morrow. Furr picked up an 11-6 win over Mantachie in game one of last week's second-round playoff series, while Morrow was dominant in game two as the Indians won 10-0.

Mitchell said the expectations were high, but the Indians had to get over a couple of bumps during the season.

"Early in the year we were a little too sure of ourselves," he said. "We kind of got away from our offensive philosophy."

Three of Ackerman's four losses this season came to teams from Florida, while another was to 1A power East Webster and the other two were to league foes Hamilton and Water Valley. The loss to Water Valley came at the end of the season and cost the Indians the region championship.

"Sure, we wanted to win the division," Mitchell said. "But, at the same time, it has worked out good for us."

Jamey Cutts ripped a homer and triple and drove in three runs to lead AHS past Mantachie 11-6 last Thursday, while Nolan Long ripped a homer and two singles while driving in three runs of his own. Shawn Stricklin had a single and double, while Furr picked up the win on the mound with a 10-strikeout performance.

Jay Layman drove in five runs on the back of two homers for Mantachie, while Trey McWhorth added a solo shot.

Game two saw Morrow allow only three hits without a walk as the Indians rolled to the 10-0 win in five innings.

Stricklin had a two-run single in the first inning and a grand slam in the fourth to key the Ackerman offensive attack. Long had a single and double, while Bryant added a pair of hits.

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