Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
The end of the week before spring break for the Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys varsity baseball team had its share of downs and ups.
On Thursday, March 11, the Cowboys faced one of their old rivals, the Suwannee High School Bulldogs. The evening turned out to be one that would be dominated by the visiting Bulldogs. After a scoreless first two innings, the Bulldogs began an offensive avalanche that did not end until the game was called after six innings with the Bulldogs ahead, 13-0.
The Cowboys only managed four hits in 20 at-bats and struggled to bring runners home. The Cowboys left five stranded on base throughout the game.
Mitch Rutherford and Parker Copeland teamed up on the mound for the Cowboys, giving up a combined eight hits, seven earned runs, eight walks and striking out six batters.
The following evening, Friday, March 12, the Cowboys hosted the Wildcats from Altha High School. It was a much different evening for the Cowboys as pitcher JD Bryan put on a pitching clinic and helped lead the Cowboys, to a 5-0 shut-out over the Wildcats.
The game was scoreless going into the fourth inning, when the Cowboys scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Then, in the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Cowboys added two more to their total. Kyler Richie came in to pitch for the Cowboys in the top of the seventh to seal the deal for the Cowboys.
Richie went two-for-four, with two RBIs for the Cowboys. Mitch Rutherford had two hits in his three trips to the plate, with one RBI. Mike Mobley, Rhett Rutherford, Tyrece Pryor and Gavin Bass also had base hits for the Cowboys.
JD Bryan pitched for six full innings of no hit baseball and registered 16 strike-outs and three walks. Richie came in for the final inning to complete the “no hitter.”
The Cowboys have been on spring break for the past week, but will return to Cowboy Field on Thursday, March 25, when they face the Warriors of Aucilla Christian Academy. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.