When people think of CCA’s Blake Bryant, his pitching is what typically comes to mind first. Friday night, however, it was his bat that did the damage.
The Patriots traveled to St. Simons to face the Frederica Academy Knights in a battle between defending state champions (CCA, Class A; Frederica, Class 3A). The two teams were tied 2-2 until the top of the seventh inning when CCA broke the game open with eight runs, including a grand slam by Bryant that effectively ended the game as soon as the ball left his bat.
The Knights scored two in the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Patriots answered in the third with two of their own to tie the game. Sam Ables and Gray McLean led off with walks. They each moved up a base on a wild pitch with Thomas Gentry at the plate. He hit a two-strike pitch into right for a double, scoring Ables and McLean.
That was all the scoring either team would do until the final inning. Clay Phillips broke the tie with an RBI single that scored Cayden Hall. Tyson Crosby scored Jonah Hall with a single for a 4-2 advantage. Mason Spivey scored when McLean walked with the bases loaded. Gentry followed with a single that scored Chris Reckley to put the Patriots up 6-2.
Then Bryant stepped to the plate. On a 2-2 count, he homered to left, bringing in Crosby, McLean, and Gentry for a decisive 10-2 lead.
Phillips retired the Knights in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.
Bryant was 2-5 with four RBI and a run scored. Gentry, Knight, Phillips, and Crosby each had two hits. Gentry drove in three and McLean scored twice.
Skyler Woods started and lasted four innings. He struck out three, walked two, and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits. Phillips threw the last three innings and didn’t allow a hit or a run. He struck out one and walked one.
The Patriots are 3-0 on the season and have a few days off before taking the field again on Thursday, March 12, against Pinewood in Douglas. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
