The Patrick County High School Cougar baseball team hung in until the end last Monday when Christiansburg visited Cougar Field and won 6-5.
The Cougars were leading 3-2 until the top of the fifth inning when the Demons added three runs in the inning, pulling ahead 5-2. They added another run in the sixth inning for the sixth run.
The Cougars bounced back in the bottom of the sixth with two runs—not enough to overcome the Demon lead.
Dylan Phillips took the loss on the mound. He pitched four innings, allowed five runs, eight hits and struck out one batter.
Evan Hopkins drove in the first Cougar run when he doubled in the first inning. Hopkins, Seth Scott, Jacob Mullis and William Wood scored for the Cougars. Parker Brown had two hits.
“I would like to thank all of the parents and fans for coming out tonight to show their support for our program,” said Coach Eric Renegar. “For the first time in a long time, I felt like we were playing at home with a great environment! Obviously, the outcome wasn’t what we were looking for, but the effort and passion was there on our end, they are a good ball club,” he explained.
“I believe our bullpen did an outstanding job eliminating damage in certain situations. However, our offense didn’t get the big hits when we needed them, and when we did, it was right at the bad guys,” Renegar said. “Got to tip your cap to that group over there; they are a good baseball team, and our guys stepped up to the challenge but fell short today,” he added.
Renegar has been saying “Baseball is fun!” on the sidelines every single game this season. It appears to be that way for the PCHS ball team.
The players have had many accomplishments this season. They include: first double-digit win total since ’12; five players named First Team All-Piedmont District (Parker Brown, Evan Hopkins, Caleb Pendleton, Dylan Phillps, and Seth Scott); Piedmont District Coach of the Year (Eric Renegar); and “Co-Athletes of the week in the Bulletin” (Caleb Pendleton and Dylan Phillips); a winning record in Piedmont District, as well as Conference 32; and the Cougars will be returning 10 from varsity squad, including four All-District players next year.
Renegar summed up the season this way: “You win some, you lose some, and sometimes it rains. We fought hard, but the ball didn’t bounce our way every time. I believe we accomplished goals this season, but will not accomplish the ultimate goal until we win the last game of the season (winning a championship),” Renegar said. “So, are we happy? Yes, but in no way are we satisfied. I wanted more than anything for this season to mean something to each and every individual who had stake in it,” he said.
“I believe through all of our hard work, we were able to satisfy that need in our program, the need of satisfaction and joy. Having said that, I believe the group we have coming back knows that we have a lot of unfinished business and are already calling/texting me asking to go hit/lift. That, is the most special part of this.
“With our four seniors departing, it creates a little bit of a curve for our junior group,” he explained. “That senior group set the foundation for something greater here at Patrick County, and they will be greatly missed, but have left the group coming up with a road map to success. We have some good young talent in the JV program we will lean heavily on to fill voids at third base, in the outfield, and on the mound,” he said.
“We are continuing our work throughout the summer. We have the majority of our program playing travel baseball for the first time, and a younger group playing in an area league with the likes of Martinsville, Magna Vista, Morehead, Tunstall, Bassett, Chatham, and others,” he said.
“Baseball is BACK in Patrick County,” he added.
