13-1 and 12-6 in Region sweep

By KEVIN PEARCEY

Sports Writer

Pike Liberal Arts dropped two straight to the Glenwood Gators yesterday in a doubleheader at Patriot field.

PLAS was routed in the first contest 13-1 as Glenwood batters stepped to the plate and turned a slim 3-1 lead into a home run derby.

Aided by heavy wind gusts, Glenwood hitters combined for four homers in the third and fourth innings to send home a total of eight runs.

It was a tough day for Pike Lib’s starting pitcher Will Hudson. Hudson gave up the first home run to Brent Newsome in the third inning, which was quickly followed by a two-run rocket over center field by Eric McKelvie.

In the top of the fourth Daniel Weldon sent a home run over center field which seemed to land somewhere in the vicinity of the Patriots football field. Hudson was relieved by Layton Sanders, who fared no better on the mound, as Glenwood’s Josh Wright delivered his own two-run shot over the fence.

Guess where?

Center field.

Jack Trinkler started at pitcher for the Gators. Trinkler walked three batters in the first inning, including the Patriots only run of the game, but recovered to record two straight strike outs, leaving three runners stranded on base.

Remember that.

After the Gators had took a 6-1 lead in the third, the Patriots once again had the bases loaded after two walks by Trinkler and a single by Wes Johnson, but there was just one problem.

Trinkler had already sent two PLAS batters to the bench and retired the third, Tate Flowers, in the same manner.

In the second game, Glenwood jumped off to an a 11-0 lead and overcame some shaky pitching by Jeffrey Trinkler in the last inning, to take the win, 12-6.

The younger Trinkler did his brother Jack one better by capping off the Gators scoring with a home run, but struggled on the mound in the final inning. After an RBI by Pike Lib’s Chris Campbell scored two runs and a single by Matt Floyd loaded the bases, Trinkler walked three straight runs before he was able to strike out Jeremy Barbaree to end the game.

Next up for the Patriots is a home match against Lakeside Thursday. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.