USJ, Peabody aces threw perfect games

Ryan Rolison and Kendrick Malone have been among the area’s best pitchers in rural West Tennessee baseball the past couple of years.

Malone has had a few no-hitters while helping Peabody get to the Class A sectionals two years ago and the state tournament at Spring Fling last year.

Rolison has impressed plenty of professional scouts and signed with Ole Miss to play college baseball while also being a part of University School of Jackson’s state championship team two years ago.

Both ace pitchers achieved something they’d never done before in high school baseball when they each threw a perfect game.

Malone’s perfect game came in the Golden Tide’s 10-0 victory over Greenfield.

The win was a spark for the team as the Tide was coming off their first loss since the first week of the season and their first defeat in District 14-A play.

Malone and the defense didn’t allow a single Yellowjacket batter to reach base.

The same went for Rolison and the Bruins, but his performance was a little more necessary in a 2-0 win over Fayette Academy.

“Their pitcher was doing a good job of keeping us off our rhythm swinging the bat,” Rolison said about the close game with the Vikings. “We just didn’t play our best offensively in getting the ball to do what we’re supposed to do when we make contact.”

Rolison said he felt good going into the game. His arm felt loose all day and even better when he warmed up just before first pitch.

Then it was time to go to work, and he did as the game progressed.

“I don’t usually hit my highest velocity early in the game,” Rolison said. “I usually just try to see in the first couple innings how my body is feeling and just how the game is coming to me.

“Then I try to pitch stronger as the game goes along.”

Rolison said that happened as he hit his highest velocity in the seventh inning at 91 MPH. He’s been known to hit 94.

He said he somewhat paid attention to the fact no Viking batters were reaching base as the game went on, but it wasn’t his focus as the Bruins simply wanted to remain undefeated in Division II-A West play.

There were a few congratulatory hugs after the final out, but Rolison said it wasn’t a huge celebration.

“As a team we hadn’t played the best we had all year, so we were thinking about that as well,” Rolison said.

The Bruins will try to clinch No. 1 from their district Monday when they host Tipton-Rosemark, who lost to St. George’s this week.

Brandon Shields, 425-9751