Patriots claim area title
Published 9:24 pm Tuesday, April 9, 2019
The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots wrapped up an area championship on Tuesday evening when they swept a doubleheader against Macon-East.
The Patriots took game one comfortably 10-2 before officially clinching the championship in game two with a 15-5 win.
A five-run fifth inning proved to be the difference in game one. The Patriots entered the inning tied at 2-2. Cody Hollis led off the scoring when he touched home on a passed ball. Davis Allen and Tristan Carter came around to score on a hit by Chandler Golden and an error by the Macon East center fielder. Drew Nelson singled to right field to score Carter and Golden and the Patriots went into the bottom of the fifth with a comfortable 7-2 lead.
Holt Steed got the start and lasted all seven innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out five batters.
Nelson finished the game 3-4 at the plate with two RBI. Cody Hollis picked up two hits and Sikes, Golden and Levi Sikes all had one hit.
The Patriots jumped on the board first in the top of the second inning on a Levi Sikes groundout.
After allowing Macon East to tie and take the lead with two runs in the third inning, the Patriots tied the game at two in the fourth on a single by Levi Sikes.
Following their five-run fifth, the Patriots picked up two runs in the sixth. Javon Christian came around to score on a groundout by Davis Allen and Hollis came around to score on a wild pitch.
The Patriots put the final run on the board in the seventh when Golden scored on a double play.
The Patriots scored in every inning in their game two win over the Knights.
After falling behind in the first inning 2-1, the Patriots scored 11 straight runs including seven in the second inning.
The Patriots totaled six hits in the second inning, including RBI hits by Allen and Golden. The Patriots had two runs score on an error and another on a wild pitch.
The Patriots added a run in the third when Allen stole third base and came around to score on an error.
Already leading 9-2, the Patriots scored three more runs in the fourth inning. Levi Sikes hit a sacrifice fly, Christian scored on an error and Allen had an RBI single.
The Patriots added a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to go ahead by 10 at 15-5.
Nelson got the start and lasted five innings before Golden came in and pitched the final inning.
The Patriots finished with 19 hits in game two. Allen finished 4-4 at the plate with an RBI. Nelson also found success at the plate, finishing 3-3 with a home run, while Jade Sikes finished with three.