North Pike High School had big second innings in each game of the doubleheader at home Tuesday against the South Pike baseball team, and that was all the Jaguars needed for the sweep.
The Jaguars (16-1, 9-0) won game one 12-0 in four innings and game two 10-0 in five innings to remain undefeated in Region 6-4A action.
“We took care of business,” North Pike head coach George Lott said. “I don’t think it was very pretty on our part, but we took care of business.”
The Jaguars put together a six-run bottom of the second inning in the first game. Ben Coney, the eighth hitter of the inning, got the first hit of the frame on an opposite field single to right field to score Connor Travis. Brantley Hughes followed with a two-run double to score Jacob Gill, who walked, and Coney to extend the lead to 6-0.
Cade Killingsworth and Tyler Alexander walked during the inning for North Pike while the winless Eagles committed two errors.
North Pike put together a five-run bottom of the second in game two.
Travis walked and pinch runner Paul Willingham scored on a wild pitch. Gill was hit by a pitch and reached on a Coney base hit. Killingsworth hit a two-run double to score Coney’s pinch runner Parker Phillips and Hughes, who was also hit by a pitch.
“It seemed like we’ve had one two bad innings all year,” South Pike head coach J.T. Thomas said. “We had the bases loaded there at one time — a line drive right to somebody. It’s just one of those deals where we’re not executing like we should.”
The Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the second inning in game two with one out. Christian Ming reached on an error while Daryl Holloway and Reggie Martin each hit singles. Alvey Mixon followed with lined out to North Pike third baseman Jonah Bankston, who threw the ball to the first baseman Killingworth to get Martin out and complete the double play.
Keshun Nimox opened the top of the fourth of game two with an infield single for South Pike and stole second base, but could not advance. Nimox also hit a one-out opposite field single to right with one out in game one.
Multiple pinch runners got in the game during the late innings for North Pike.
“We got a lot of guys some reps in this ballgame,” Lott said. “It was good to get an early lead in the games and play a bunch of people.”
Killingsworth pitched a complete game for North Pike in the opener while Coney went all five innings in game two. Coney usually pitches game one and different starters have thrown in game two, but since it was a doubleheader, Lott made a switch.
“Cade needed some work,” Lott said. “Ben needed some work. We were playing two games. Ben had some family in, so he wanted to pitch the second game. Both of them were going to pitch tonight, so that’s just the reason we did that.”
Malik Leonard was the pitcher for South Pike in game one and Jesse Jordan threw in game two.
“Just like I told them there, if we execute like we’re supposed to, put the bat on the ball and make them make some plays, it kind of helps us out,” Thomas said.
“We’re still a young team. We make a lot of young mistakes. A lot of them just don’t have a lot of baseball knowledge. You’ve got to mix a few in there with them that do. Some of them, they’re trying real hard and they’re just so tensed up that they don’t make the plays.”
Weather permitting, the Jaguars and Eagles are scheduled to complete the three-game series at South Pike on Friday. The junior varsity is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. followed by the varsity at 6.
