Newton County Academy’s Alec Thompson gets set to put the tag on Leake Academy’s Sam Wilder at second base as he attempts to steal Thursday at Lamar School.

Considering the fact Cory Burns’ Leake Academy squad entered its game against Newton County Academy with an undefeated record, there has been no shortage of early season games that Burns could count among his favorite.

However, it wasn’t until the final out of Leake Academy’s extra-inning win Thursday that Burns felt comfortable about picking his favorite.

Will Lawson Harkins delivered the winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Trent Anderson and lift Leake Academy to a 7-6 win against Newton County Academy in a game played at Lamar School.

“I was as proud of that win as (any) we’ve had all year because we were up, we were down, we came back and tied the game up,” Burns said. “And we found a way to win in extra innings. I’m proud of the way they didn’t quit.”

Leake Academy led 6-3 to enter the top of the seventh inning, needing just three outs to secure the win. But Newton County Academy’s Braxton Rose and Lee Hollingsworth opened the frame with singles, bringing Austin Upton to the batter’s box as the tying run. Upton singled in Rose, and Zach Joyner reached first on an error, which brought Hollingsworth and Upton home to tie the score at six. 

Leake Academy and Newton County Academy went hitless in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eight, respectively, bringing Anderson to the plate for Leake Academy in the bottom of the frame. Anderson singled, and was followed by Ryan Atkinson, who reached first base after drawing a walk. 

Austin Wilcher bunted to shift Anderson to third and Atkinson to second, and Sam Wilder was intentionally walked, setting up Harkins’ extra-inning sacrifice fly. 

Newton County Academy (2-7) out-hit Leake Academy 15-9, and was led offensively by Kemp Alderman, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Hollingsworth went  2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, and Rose, Lincoln Jordan and Logan Little each earned two hits. 

Untimely errors, however, were too much to overcome.  

“That’s been our Achilles heel all season — we’re not making the routine plays,” Newton County Academy coach Kelly Alderman said. “We out-hit them, we’re just not making the routine plays. We’re pitching well — every game we pitch well. We’ve had four one-run games, so we have a good team. We just have to get it together.”

Harkins picked up the pitching win for the Rebels. Drew Roberson was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, and Anderson and Harkins finished with two runs apiece. 

Leake Academy, which is short on seniors, improved to 7-0 on the season. 

“We have two seniors on the team, and everybody else is juniors and sophomores,” Burns said. “Last year, they got the minimum action in roles. This year, they’ve really stepped up and have done a good job for us at the plate and in the field. Our two seniors — Shawn Myers and Austin Wilcher — have really stepped up and have been leaders for these young guys.”

Up next: Newton County Academy travels to Lamar School Friday, while Leake Academy plays Kirk Academy next Monday during the Golden Triangle Spring Break Classic.