The Performance Academy

The term “dirtbag” is a compliment in baseball. It describes a player who is gritty, tough, and willing to do the dirty work to help the team win. Players who are often described this way are guys who grind out at-bats, steal bases aggressively, take hard slides, or play through pain.

In Game 1 of the 2A South State Championship Series Jake Lee, a junior at Clardale took a wild pitch directly off his left hand while batting, that resulted in a clean break. His X-ray (provided by his parents) is below. Most kids would’ve been done for the season …. not this DIRTBAG! Jake refused to come out of the game and continued to play centerfield with his glove hand broken. After being evaluated by a doctor and informed that his hand would need surgery to repair, Jake opted to let it ride. Fast forward to the third and final game, his team needed their #2 arm on the mound to get them to Trustmark.

In today’s society players are typically quick to sit due to minor injuries and 99% would be in street clothes over a broken hand, but it’s that 1% that still exist that make you root for them no matter the situation, no matter the odds they make you feel like there’s always a chance.

Jake Lee may be in the 1% of the 1%. His team needed him, his coaches, his school, the community and it was no way he wasn’t going to toe that rubber. So with an ACE bandage and a heart full of grit he not only started the game, but EIGHT INNINGS AND 122 pitches later he finished it!. Throwing an amazing 90 pitches for strikes, striking out 7 and only walking two, he left everything he had on that mound for his brothers and the estimated 1000 spectators that would never have been able to tell, that in a few days he will have pins a plates inserted to fix his injury. Three outs later Clarkdale would fall short by a single run and no doubt the pain of the loss hurt worse than Jake’s hand did. But to a player like Jake Lee, the pain would have been greater if he had been watching from the dugout in street clothes.

The only word that can accurately describe him is …… DIRTBAG!!!👊🏼💪🏼
Clarkdale Baseball

The Raiders will be fighting to stay alive in the MAIS 3A Division II State Championship Game tonight again Simpson. They have the talent and the grit to get it done and we are hoping the baseball gods are with them tonight! Good Luck Raiders!!👊

Game 3 of the 2A South State Championship is tonight at 7:00pm at Clarkdale H.S. - Mize & Clarkdale are about as evenly matched as any two teams can be and tonight will be a nail-biter to say the least. If you are looking for a good game to see don't turn on ESPN ... go to Clarkvegas, MS!😁

Good Luck to the Lamar Raiders tonight in Game 1 of their three game series with Simpson Academy in the MAIS 4A-DII State Championship Series!! This series features a gaggle of JUCO & D1 signees and commits so get out and support these Lauderdale County boys!

Tonight's baseball matchup with Simpson Academy has been moved to Scaggs Field on the campus of Meridian Community College. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30PM.

Come support your Raiders in Game 1 of the Division II State Championship Series!

Four local teams are still in the hunt for a ring and two have punched their ticket to the Big Show! Good Luck to the Diamond Warriors today as they try to win the last game of their season!!!

TODAY is the playoff game at RCA - 4:00 p.m. against Victory Millbrook ⚾️ Come out and support our Warriors tonight!

⚔️ It wouldn’t seem like playoff time if the Knights weren’t in the running for a State Championship. The Kingdom will be rocking tonite so go support these boys if you need some excitement in your Friday night!! Good luck guys!🏰

Good Luck to Russell Christian Baseball today as they head into the semi-finals of their State Championship Series! Play like dirtbags today boys!!

We are headed to the semifinal Friday in Tuscaloosa! Let’s pack the stands and support our Warriors 💛⚾️

Two Lauderdale County schools are starting their South State Championship series tonite! Mize v Clarkdale is going to be a pitching duel and a hitters nightmare. Two of the premier arms in the State will face-off at 7p. Baseball fans, you do not want to miss this one.

Baseball fans, you rarely have the chance to watch high school baseball on a Sunday afternoon. This is going to be a beautiful afternoon to watch this game.

Good Luck to Clarkdale Baseball in Game 1 in Round 3 of 2A South State!