Crusaders Drop 3-Game Series to CCA
It was a difficult stretch for the Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders baseball team, who suffered a three-game Region sweep at the hands of the Citizens Christian Academy Patriots this past week.
Game 1
The series opened at home on Tuesday, with both teams locked in a scoreless tie early on. The stalemate broke in the top of the third inning when CCA managed to plate a pair of runs to take the lead.
The Patriots steadily pulled away from there, bringing home two more runs in the sixth inning and adding a final run in the seventh to hand RTCA a 5-0 shutout. Brittan Tabor anchored the Crusaders at the plate, finishing the afternoon with two of the team's hits.
Game 2
On Thursday, RTCA traveled to CCA for a doubleheader, but the Crusaders' bats continued to struggle. In the opening matchup, CCA’s pitching staff threw a no-hitter to completely stifle RTCA.
The Patriots took control, putting three runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning. A five-run surge in the fourth put the game out of reach, and CCA tacked on two final runs in the fifth to secure a 10-0 run-rule victory.
Game 3
RTCA showed some early spark in the second game of the doubleheader. Hayden Meeks stepped up with an RBI single in the top of the first inning, giving the Crusaders a quick 1-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as CCA answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take over the momentum.
The Patriots added a single run in the second before breaking the game open with a six-run third inning. Two final runs in the fourth handed CCA a 12-1 run-rule win to complete the series sweep.
The Crusaders enter the final week of the regular season with a 5-12 overall record and an even 3-3 mark in Region play. They close out their schedule with a three-game Region series against Vidalia Heritage Academy. The series began with a Monday doubleheader played after presstime, and the teams will meet for the third and final game this Thursday at VHA, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.
