Patriots win the defensive battle against Wake Christian
The Arendell Parrott Academy Patriots (11-4) pulled out a 2-1 victory over Wake Christian Academy (6-4) to make it three straight wins. The game was close the whole contest, including going down to the wire with the winning run on first base with one out before Tanner Outlaw came in and shut down the next two batters.
"It is awesome to have someone you can put in and not fold under pressure," Coach Robert Kravitz said about Outlaw.
Before Outlaw finished the Bulldogs chances, APA's Garrett Byrd pitched six and one third inning before being pulled for reaching his pitch count. Byrd only allowed one run in the outing. Even though Byrd had to leave the game in crunch time, he never second guessed his teammate.
"I trust him a whole lot," Byrd said. "I knew he was going to do it."
With ice-cold viens, Outlaw knew he was ready for the moment.
"No pressure," Outlaw said. "I was just thinking about it being a regular game, you can’t think about the pressure or it will get to you.
Not only are the Patriots on a three game winning streak, but Byrd is on his own type of three-game streak. In each of the last three games Byrd has started on the mound; he has also solo homered. Bottom of the fourth inning, down 1-0, Byrd sends one flying over the left field fence.
"Garret is a bulldog for us," coach Krav said. "When he gets locked in, he is tough. Offensively, he has been great all year for us."
Rolling into a nice streak in the backend of the season, the Patriots are feeling good and exceeding expectations with their 11-4 start.
"The team is doing a lot better than I would have expected considering how young our team is," Byrd said. His teammate Outlaw followed up with, "The bats are waking up; if we stay hot, we are going to be a really hard team to beat."
The Patriots will have some days off to enjoy spring break. After the break, APA goes back into action on April 12th, in Tarboro, in an eastern tournament.
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