Class A Baseball: Providence Splits

Alan Skinner was the lift Providence Christian needed to stave off elimination in the Class A baseball semifinals Monday in Lilburn.

The lanky senior pitched a complete-game three-hitter as the Stars beat Treutlen 10-0 in the second game of the best-of-three series, enabling the Stars to keep their state-championship dreams alive. His performance came after an 8-1 loss in the first game of Monday's doubleheader, the first time in the playoffs the Stars had lost an opener and had been in danger of being swept the first day.

"We came out and weren't as focused as we usually are in Game 1," said Skinner, whose fourth-inning home run was Providence's lone run in the opener. "We knew Treutlen was a good team so I came out in the second game and knew if I didn't pitch well our season would be over. I wanted to give our team a chance and we have a good offense with our bats in the lineup."

The Stars' offense took well advantage of the chance. Providence scored four runs in the second inning as Stephen Slaughter hit a solo home run and Austin Loyd added a three-run homer for the 4-0 lead.

The Stars scored two more times runs in the fifth as Nick Stidham hit a controversial solo home run to lead off the inning. Treutlen coaches thought it was a ground-rule double as it bounced back inside the field of play, but the umpires ruled it hit above the white line on the outfield fence for the home run. Tyler Brown knocked in another run later with a bloop single.

In the seventh, the Stars got four runs as Loyd, Christin Stewart and Austin Smith each had RBIs and Brown scored on a wild pitch.

Skinner completed the shutout by getting his seventh strikeout to end the game.

Skinner was relaxed after the 4-0 lead. "As a senior, I wanted to go out and play our best and give us a chance to win. I don't want to be flashy but just get on base." Skinner reached base four times in the second game on two singles and two walks.

In the opener, Treutlen pitcher Tyler Cauley kept the Stars' potent offense at bay all game. Providence managed only six hits and hit into three double plays.

"He [Cauley] did a good job mixing it up," said Providence head coach Adam Cantrell. "It was very difficult and he kept us off balance with his fastball and breaking ball."

Game 3 is scheduled Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Providence, with the winner advancing to play Hebron Christian in the final, beginning Saturday.

"It was a little different than the last two series in that we didn't win Game 1," Cantrell said. "But Alan Skinner pitched probably his best game all year. I am real proud of the way we came back and didn't fold the tents and go home.

"They [Treutlen] played hard and we have our hands full. We're very fortunate in Game 2 that the hits fell and we made their pitcher throw a few more pitches than he wanted to. It wasn't pretty but we knew they were capable of coming back but I think the runs gave Skinner confidence when we had a shut-down inning after we scored the runs and we were able to play loose."