By Jonathan Shelton

The Patrick County High School Cougars varsity baseball team had another busy week, traveling to Bassett Monday, hosting Blacksburg Thursday, and playing a double header at Hooker Field in Martinsville Friday. The Cougars won all four games, giving them a seven-game winning streak and a 11-4 record.

Playing rivals, the Bassett Beangles, on Monday, the Cougars scored early with three runs in the first inning. Those were the only runs Patrick County scored. Thanks to great defense and Nicolas Duncan’s remarkable pitching, the Bengals stayed frozen throughout the entire game.

Duncan allowed only three hits, while striking out four and giving up no walks. The Cougars three runs came from Parker Brown, brought in by Seth Scott’s double; William Wood coming in off of a sacrifice fly by Andrew Collins and Seth Scott stealing home.

After taking a two-day break, Patrick County hosted Blacksburg on Thursday, shutting the Bruins out 10-0 in six innings. Both offenses fell asleep through the first three innings. Patrick County then came alive, scoring five runs in the fourth, and continued to pile on two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Dylan Phillips pitched all six innings and was the winning pitcher. He allowed only three hits, gave up one walk, and struck out four batters.

William Wood, Seth Scott, and Andrew Collins all finished the game with two runs each. Evan Hopkins, Colby Vernon, Josh Cockram, and Kristian Ashburn each added a run of their own to contribute to the Cougars win.

The Cougars traveled to Hooker Field on Friday to play Martinsville in a double header. The Cougars swept the Bulldogs, winning both games 10-0 (in four innings) and 13-3 (in three innings). The Cougars got off to a fairly slow start in the first game, scoring two runs in the first and second innings. Going scoreless in the third, the Cougars came alive in the fourth, scoring five more runs to blow out the Bulldogs 10-0.

The second game was similar. The Cougars scored the first two runs in the first inning but lost the lead after giving up three runs to the Bulldogs. The Cougars roared back with seven runs in the second inning and four more to finish off the Bulldogs in the third inning 13-3.

Seth Scott pitched the first game and was the winning pitcher. Pitching a nearly unhittable game, Scott finished with allowing only two hits, walking one batter, and striking out five Bulldogs. Parker Brown finished with two runs and an RBI. Kristian Ashburn contributed two runs as well, one of them being a steal of home plate. Seth Scott had one run and a triple to bring in Evan Hopkins for his lone run. William Wood had one run and three RBIs.

Thatcher Blankenship, who pitched the second game, was the winning pitcher. He allowed five hits, one walk, three runs, and struck out two batters. Colby Vernon ended with two runs, two huge triples, and five RBIs. William Wood finished the game with two runs and three RBIs. Seth Scott had two runs and two RBIs. Parker Brown and Andrew Collins added two runs of their own as well.

The Cougars are slated to play an away game at Halifax on Friday at 5 p.m.