Baseball Game Preview: Hartfield Academy Hawks vs. Jackson Prep Patriots

For the second straight game, Hartfield Academy will face off against Jackson Prep. The Hawks will be playing at home against the Patriots at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Hartfield Academy is coming into the match hot, having won their last 12 games.

Hartfield Academy is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Mississippi's top teams: Jackson Prep, who was ranked 12th at the time (Hartfield Academy was ranked first). The Hawks came out on top against the Patriots by a score of 13-10 on Thursday. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Hawks, who until this contest were averaging 2.39 runs allowed.

Taylor Latham

Runs Batted In (Career)

04/10/25 @ Jackson Prep	4
03/28/25 vs St. Joseph Catholic	2
02/28/25 @ Warren Central	2
02/25/25 @ Canton Academy	2
02/17/24 vs Richland	2

Taylor Latham was a major factor no matter where he played. He struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off six hits. He has been consistent : he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-5 with one home run and four RBI. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high.

In other batting news, JP Abt was incredible, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with four RBI, two runs, and two doubles. That's the most doubles he has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Henry Abt, who scored two runs and stole two bases while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances.

Hartfield Academy's win was their ninth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 21-2. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.2 runs over those games. As for Jackson Prep, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 16-9-1.

Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hartfield Academy hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .340. However, it's not like Jackson Prep struggles in that department as they've averaged .332. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.