Interview with Mark Engel and Hank Nichols: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLJ2aCbAOjE&t=0s
Interview with Coach Tharp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnPOLKYI4B8
The Piedmont Pride took care of business on Saturday night, defeating the Concord Athletics 9-0 at Concord High School. The offense combined for eight hits, while the pitching staff only allowed three hits on the night. The Pride move to 14-2 on the season and will be back home at York High School on Monday evening as they take on the Charlotte Prospects.
Hank Nichols took the mound for the Red and Blue Saturday night, and gave a phenomenal start. Nichols went 7.0 innings deep, allowing just three hits, no earned runs, and striking out seven. JT Wolke would come in to pitch for the eighth inning, sitting down the Athletics in order on just nine pitches.
Nolan “strikeout” Wilson came in to close the deal out, sending two of the three batters he faced back to the bench via strikeout. Wilson has a 56% strikeout rate of the 44 batter he has faced this season.
Mark Engel went three for five on the night with five RBI’s. In the 4th, with the game knotted at 0-0 and the bases loaded, Engel sent a ball to deep left field that bounced off the wall, clearing the bases and giving The Pride a 3-0 lead.
Josh Baker has been showing some patience at the plate the last few games. His two walks Saturday night give him five in the last three games. Baker went two for three with one RBI’s as well and was joined by Jake Wright who also had two walks.
