The Trinity Saints varsity baseball team began its defense of the MPSA District 6A title with a doubleheader sweep of Pine Hills, winning 8-2 and 10-3 on Tuesday.

Trinity got great pitching from Hunter Dale in the first game and Elliot Meng in the second game.

&uot;Hunter and Elliot pitched real well,&uot; said Trinity head baseball coach David King. &uot;They had outstanding pitching performances.&uot;

Dale went the distance for Trinity in the first game, giving up two runs and four hits (all singles) while striking out 13, including at least one in all seven innings.

The most unusual part of the first game was that Trinity scored half of its eight runs on passed balls by Game 1 losing pitcher Joey Sturdivant.

In the second inning, Gregory Ketchings doubled, stole third and scored on an Elliot Meng fielder’s choice.

Designated hitter Hill Pollard reached first on a Wildcat error, went to third on Cole Brown’s double and scored on a passed ball. Brown went to third on the first passed ball and scored on another passed ball.

In the third inning, William McGehee walked, went to second on a Walt Ketchings single and scored on a Chase Brown single. Pinch runner Jon Borum came in for Chase Brown and stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a fielder’s choice by Meng.

Pine Hills scored a run in the top of the fourth inning as Shane Lofton singled and stole home plate.

The Wildcats scored another run in the fifth as Richie McClain scored on a Lofton single.

In the fifth, Ketchings singled and scored on a Meng double.

In the sixth, Cole Brown doubled, stole third and scored on a passed ball.

Cole Brown went 2-for-4 and McGehee went 2-for-3 for Trinty. Lofton went 2-for-3 for Pine Hills.

The Saints did not get off to a good start in the second game as Pine Hills jumped out to a 3-0 lead before coming to bat in the first inning.

Jon Anders and Chris Guidrey scored on a Lofton single and Lofton scored on a Steve Causey single.

&uot;Elliot got off to a slow start in the second game, but he took over after the first inning,&uot; King said.

Meng also pitched a complete game, giving up three runs on four hits (all singles), striking out 12 and walking five.

Trinity scored one run in the bottom of the first as Dale singled, stole second and scored on a Walt Ketchings single.

Trinity took the lead for good by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third. Walt Ketchings hit a two-run single, McGehee had an RBI single and Cole Brown had an RBI double.

Walt Ketchings went 3-for-3, walked once, had four RBIs and scored three times in the second game.

&uot;Walt Ketchings is tearing it up right now. He’s batting about .650 now,&uot; King said.

Cole Brown went 2-for-4 with both hits being doubles and Chase Brown was 2-for-4 with a double.

&uot;We got some timely hitting. I think we’re hitting our stride,&uot; King said. &uot;The defense was much better than it has been. These kids are eager to learn.&uot;

Trinity (6-3, 2-0) plays at Silliman Thursday, beginning with the JV game at 5 p.m.

followed by the varsity game at 7 p.m.