The top of the order came alive in a massive way and the Heritage Christian Academy baseball team notched its first win of the season Thursday during a 15-5 victory at Community Christian Academy in Paducah.
Led by the foursome of Caden Gresham, Cadyn Travis, Collin Outland, and Bradley Boyd, which combined to go 10-for-14 at the dish, the Warriors exploded for four runs out of the gate and never looked back during the four-inning, run-shortened affair. HCA had lost its first six games of the season coming in.
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Outland and Boyd are what began the onslaught in the top of the first inning, as Heritage took a 3-0 lead before ever recording an out. Host CCA (also nicknamed the Warriors) drew a bases-loaded walk, which was one of 14 bases on balls it racked up in the loss, to get a run back, but the Outland-Boyd duo struck again in the second with an RBI triple and RBI double, respectively, to make it 6-1.
Community Christian (1-4) managed to draw three more walks with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, pulling within 15-5 of HCA, but sophomore Henry Bullard managed to strike out Henry Brantley to end the contest and give Heritage its first triumph of 2024.
Bullard pitched the final two innings in relief and finished with five strikeouts. Outland had three strikeouts and allowed just one run during the first two innings. Outland (double, triple), Boyd (double), Travis (double), and Ethan MIles (triple) helped HCA accumulate 20 total bases.
Heritage Christian (1-6) will try to keep the momentum going at 2 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Caverna (1-3) in Hopkinsville. The Warriors then begin a string of three straight 8th District games the following week, beginning March 26 at University Heights Academy.
