The Pinecrest Patriots defeated Scotland High school’s JV baseball team 6-2 Tuesday night in nine innings. Logan Crisp singled to break up a 2-2 tie and start a four-run inning for the visiting team in extra innings.

Jay Thomas singled with one out in the ninth to spark the bats for Pinecrest. Thomas would advance to second on a single, and then third on a wild pitch. That’s when Crisp stepped up and delivered. His line drive into right field let Thomas cross home and finally break the deadlock. A few more wild pitches allowed the Patriots to add three more runs in that frame.

Scotland High school had several chances to win the game, but was unable to capitalize and ultimately lost the game that began as a pitcher’s duel. Neither team was able to get a hit until the third inning, with Brandon Hiott starting on the mound for the Scots and Zach Atkins for the Patriots.

Scotland scored first in the fourth inning when Logan House singled to right center field to score a run. The lead, however, wouldn’t last long. In the next inning the Patriots scored twice, and held onto that until the bottom half of the sixth when Grant English doubled down the right field line to score Justin Ingram from third.

Scotland coach Greg Wrap said there were no excuses for the loss, and said his team should’ve won before nine innings.

“We just didn’t get it done when we had the chances,” he said.

Scotland had its best chance to win in the bottom of the eighth inning. Hiott hit the ball deep to center field and House headed for home. It looked like he would make it, but the throw to the catcher was just in time. Both runner and catcher dove to the plate in a cloud of dirt and the umpire ruled House out, forcing the game to continue.

Pinecrest coach Bill Permakoff said it was a tough game for either team to lose.

“It was a great game,” he said. “The pitching was very good for both sides. We got lucky in the ninth with a few wild pitches that let us score.”

Permakoff emphasized how important defense was on a day when runs were at a premium.

“Our defense saved us, with that great play at home and a couple diving catches in the outfield.”