The Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball team took an important step toward its first region championship Tuesday with another dismantling of a 1-A foe.
The Knights needed just three innings to dispatch of visiting Westminster Christian 15-0. BCA (16-2 overall, 7-0 in Region 1-A) scored 13 runs in the first inning and is now in position to win region with a win next Tuesdady at Thomas Jefferson Academy.
Jared Martin earned the win Tuesday with four strikeouts in the shortened contest.
Matt Masters delivered a two-run homer in the bottom of the first for coach Nick Pou’s team as the onslaught began after Jordan Fountain had a one-out double.
“Our biggest thing is that we need to continue to work on situational hitting,” Pou said. “It’s tough for a high school player to realize it’s not about him or about hitting a home run every time you are at the plate. We have speed and score a lot of runs when we do the little things right at the plate. We don’t have to hit one into the trees.”
A win next Tuesday at Thomas Jefferson would give the Knights an outright region crown. Since Thomas Jefferson enters the game with only one region loss (to BCA), a victory by the team would force a one-game playoff to determine the 1-A champion. BCA won the first meeting 4-0 back on March 23.
“If we go down there and do what we are supposed to do, then I like our chances,” Pou said. “We have several days to work on some things. I believe we will be ready to go for the region title.”
Prior to Tuesday’s game, BCA defeated Class AAA Loganville Christian 9-5 on the road.
Jordan Fountain earned the win after working six strong innings. Jared Martin helped lead the team at the plate going 3-for-4 with a double while driving in four runs.
Ben Morgan was 2-for-2 with an RBI and Ramon Rivera was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
The win gave the Knights a season sweep against the rival LCA Lions.
Visiting John Hancock Academy got all it wanted of the Knights Friday in less than an inning of play.
BCA scored 13 runs in the bottom of the first and was still battling when the John Hancock coach disputed a call at first base. After the Rebels coach was tossed from the game, he decided he wasn’t leaving alone and put his team on the bus and left town.
Pou said the shortened contest would still count as a Region 1-A victory for the Knights who travel to Thomas Jefferson Academy Friday for a 4:30 p.m. region contest.
