By Stephen Henderson
The Patrick County High School Cougar baseball team downed the Warriors of Magna Vista 14-1 last Tuesday afternoon at Cougar Field.
The Cougars took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning and added one run in the second and third before driving in nine runs in the fourth to end the game in five innings 14-1.
The lone Warrior run came in the fourth inning.
Two of the three runs in the first inning came on pitcher Caleb Pendleton’s single.
The nine-run fourth inning was started by Seth Scott’s double; it continued with a Warrior error, Evan Hopkins’ single, a single by Jared Brown, a ground-out by Pendleton, a single by Andrew Collins, a double by Kristian Ashburn and another Warrior error.
The Cougars had nine hits in the game. Scott had three, Hopkins and Ashburn each had two. Hopkins and Pendleton drove in two runs.
Caleb Pendleton claimed the win on the mound pitching five innings. He gave up one run, five hits and struck out six batters.
n Thursday’s game at Halifax, the Cougars faced a wet, sloppy field that was not conducive to Patrick County’s typical playing style.
The Comets and Cougars tied the game 1-1 in the first inning, but Halifax took advantage of some Cougar pitching and put three runs on the scoreboard to take the lead 4-1. They maintained that lead to win the game.
Austin Vernon, Thatcher Blankenship, Jared Brown and Caleb Pendleton each collected a hit for the Cougars.
Dylan Phillips took the loss on the mound for the Cougars. He pitched five innings, allowed four runs, seven hits and struck out five Comet batters.
This week the Cougars travel to Blacksburg Wednesday (today) and host Martinsville Friday.