The CCA Patriots’ trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida has been a productive one so far. Thursday, the Patriots defeated the East Carter Raiders 6-4 and the Dixie Greyhounds 9-5.
CCA scored all six of its runs in the first two innings against East Carter, plating three in each frame. It was enough to hold off the Raiders, who had scored two in the first then added a run in the sixth and seventh.
Blake Bryant led the way offensively for CCA, going 2-3 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored. He also had the Patriots’ only extra base hit of the game, a double in the first that scored Case Snipes. Thomas Gentry also had two hits and an RBI.
CCA used three pitchers with starter Gentry getting the win in 4 1/3 innings of work. Taeven Harding threw two innings and Gray McLean took the save when he recorded the last two outs.
The Patriots had a little more difficulty with the Greyhounds. They trailed 4-1 at one point before they took the lead with a 4-run third inning. Jonathan Rutland singled with the bases loaded to score Landon Williams. Snipes followed with a single that drove in Luke Russ and McLean. Bryant hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Rutland for the final run of the inning.
The Greyhounds tied the game at 5 with a run in the sixth inning.
Then the Patriots went to work one final time. With one out, Bryant doubled to score Snipes. Jackson Knight followed with walk. During Knight’s at-bat, Bryant advanced to third on a wild pitch. Russ reached on an error to load the bases. Williams was hit by a pitch, which scored Bryant and kept the bases full of Patriots. The merry go-round continued with Hunter Hayes; he walked to score pinch runner Jotham Corbean. After a fielder’s choice provided the second out of the inning, Rutland was also hit by a pitch, which scored Williams and made the Patriots a 9-5 lead.
The Greyhounds did get a runner on base in the seventh but couldn’t get him across the plate. CCA came away with a 9-5 win for their second victory of the day.
Bryant continued to swing a hot bat. He was 3-3 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Gentry had 2 hits while Rutland and Snipes each drove in a pair. Williams also scored 2 runs.
McLean, the Patriots’ third pitcher of the day, earned the win. He threw two innings and gave up just one hit. He struck out two.
Friday morning, the Patriots take the field again against the Fleming County Panthers. At 1 p.m., they will face the Raiders one more time. CCA is 12-5 on the season with 10 games remaining.
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