The Pike Liberal Arts  Patriots cruised past Escambia Academy in a double header in the second round of the Alabama Independent School Association baseball playoffs.

Pike won 11-1 in the first game, and 16-1 in the nightcap.

Game One: Pike Liberal Arts 11, Escambia Academy 1
Pitcher Reid Dickey shutdown the Cougars for the better part of the day, en route to the Pats 11-1 victory in game one. Dickey went all six innings on the hill for Pike and gave up just one run on three hits and struck out four batters.

The Patriots used a big second inning to break the close game open. Pike Liberal Arts sent 12 men to the plate in the home half of the second inning, and knocked out five hits against Escambia pitcher Michael Thompson.  Catcher Drew Starling delivered the biggest shot of the inning on a massive three-run homer the clanked off the top of the football press box beyond the left-field wall “Blue Monster.”

After giving up the first run of the day in the top of the fifth, Pike ended the game early when Chandler Avant scored on a wild pitch.
Robert Benton also has a big day at the plate going 2-2 with a double and two RBI.

Game Two: Pike Liberal Arts 16, Escambia Academy 1:
The Patriots took a 4-1 lead to the top of the sixth inning, but exploded for 12 runs in the frame to put the nightcap away early.

In total, Pike sent 17 batters to the plate in the inning, and knocked out seven hits.

Of the seven hits, five went for extra bases including a pair of three-run homers from Avant and Benton.

Everett got the win on the mound for the Patriots going five innings, scattering three hits and striking out three Cougars.