It’s been exactly two weeks since the CCA Patriots took the field. The layoff didn’t do anything to slow them down.
Friday afternoon, the Patriots defeated the First Preparatory Christian Academy Highlanders twice to advance to the semifinals of the GIAA Class A state playoffs. The Patriots won both games in three innings – 19-0 and 16-0 – in front of a packed Patriot Field in Douglas.
CCA only batted twice in game one. The Patriots scored five runs in the first inning then 14 in the second. In those two offensive innings, Landon Williams tripled, Blake Bryant (who also started and threw a nine-strikeout no hitter) homered, and Gray McLean homered twice.
McLean was 2-4 with four RBI and three runs. Bryant was 2-3 with five RBI and two runs. Jonah Hall also had two hits. The following Patriots scored twice as well: Thomas Gentry, Jackson Knight, Clay Phillips, and Williams. Tyson Crosby scored three runs as well.
Bryant threw 56 pitches in three innings, giving up just two walks to go with his nine strikeouts.
Game two followed a similar script. This time, though, the Patriots were the visiting team and as such, were guaranteed at least three innings in which to hit. They continued where they left off in game one, scoring 12 runs in the first inning. After a scoreless second, they added four more in the third.
Bryant, Knight, and Gentry all homered. Skyler Woods, Baine Clements, and Knight doubled as well. Knight was 3-3 with two runs and three RBI. Gentry, Woods, and Bryant all had two hits. Bryant scored three times and drove in three.
Gentry started and went three innings, giving up one hit and striking out eight. He only needed 46 pitches to close out the game.
Next up for the Patriots are the Thomas Jefferson Academy Jaguars. The Jags defeated Robert Toombs 7-2 and 15-0 on Thursday. Dates and times for the games have not been announced. The games will be played at Patriot Field in Douglas.
