McLaughlin, Carroll power Pats past Knights

Published 2:39 pm Saturday, March 19, 2011

The offensive juggernaut that is the Pike Liberal Arts baseball team continued its domination over the opposition Saturday afternoon.

Going into the day, both the Patriots and Northside Methodist were the last two remaining unbeaten teams in the Jonah McWaters Tournament.

All it took was just four innings for PLAS to do away with the Knights, as the team playing host to the tournament won 17-3.

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By themselves, Nick McLaughlin and Sam Carroll took down Northside, as the power hitters combined to go 6-for-7 at the plate, with three home runs, two grand slams and 12 RBIs.

McLaughlin finished 3-3 with a grand slam and two home runs, while Carroll finished 3-4 with a home run and a grand slam.

“The ball looked pretty big,” McLaughlin.

“I wasn’t trying to hit home runs – I was hoping to hit them out of here, no doubt. But really I was just trying to get a base hit.”

This was McLaughlin’s fourth home run hit in three days, and Carroll third in two days.

“We are all coming around,” Carroll said.

“I think we are all watching the ball, I think we are relaxed at the plate.”

Tatum Barnes also went deep for the first time this season, hitting a three-run home run over the left centerfield wall.

In the three tournament games the Patriots have played in, against South Montgomery, Tuscaloosa Academy and Northside Methodist, PLAS has outscored its opponents 44-5, with none of the games going over five innings.

“I like it,” Carroll said about winning by the 10-run rule.

“We are all playing together and getting hits when we need to get hits when we are in scoring position. This team is really playing well right now.”

Every Patriot reached base in the afternoon game and scored at least one run.

Next up for PLAS is the championship game, tonight, at 6 p.m.