As Andrew MacDonald warmed up for Wednesday's baseball game at Jack Britt, Pinecrest pitching coach James Baldwin just watched.

"I knew from the get-go, in the bullpen, that he was going to do real well, because he had good stuff," the 11-year Major League veteran and winning pitcher in the 2000 All-Star game said. "I didn't say anything to him, because when a guy is in a groove like that, you just let him do what he's doing. There wasn't much to be said."

Utilizing a knee-buckling curve ball, MacDonald didn't allow a hit and struck out 12 batters as the Patriots defeated the Buccaneers 12-0. The senior left-hander improved to 4-0 on the season after a game that was completed in five innings under the 10-run mercy rule.

It was the second five-inning no-hit game for the Patriots in two nights. On Tuesday, Dillon Maples and Joe Herbert combined for the no-hitter as the Patriots whipped Westover, 17-1. MacDonald's twin brother, Taylor, hit two home runs, a double and had six RBIs in that game. For more on that story go online to www.thepilot.com.

Pinecrest takes a 9-1 overall record and 5-1 mark in the Mid-Southeastern Conference into Friday's 7 p.m. home game against Seventy-First.

Andrew MacDonald led off the game against the Bucs (3-5, 2-2) by lining out hard to center field. But, the next five Patriot batters reached base and scored. A single by Jacob Gibson and a double to the base of the wall in left-center by Maples got things started. James Baldwin III and Herbert each stroked two-run singles as the visitors took a 5-0 lead.

"The team jumped on them early and that gave me a little confidence," Andrew MacDonald said. "After that, I just stayed with it."

Mixed in with a walk, the UNC-Pembroke signee struck out the side in the bottom of the first. The only ball hit off him that got out of the infield came on a Patriot fielding error in the second inning.

The Patriots added one run in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth. Maples and Baldwin each finished with two hits. Taylor MacDonald added two more RBIs on top of his big night against Westover.

Andrew MacDonald finished with a flourish, striking out the side in the fifth, the last two looking. He issued four bases on balls in the game.

"The thing about Andrew," pitching coach Baldwin said, "is that when he gets pitching and he's focused on what he needs to do, he's the best of the best of the best. His tempo was up and the guys hit and played defense behind him. That was what you call good fundamental team baseball out there tonight."

Through 10 games, the ERA of the Patriot pitching staff is a stingy 1.99. The hitters are doing their share to the tune of a team batting mark of .356.

"No doubt about it, the pitching staff is doing a great job," Pinecrest coach Jeff Hewitt said, "but the hitters are also doing such a great job. Their two-strike approach tonight was outstanding.

"I'm just as proud of that as I am about Andrew and the way the whole pitching staff has been doing. Now we're starting to play good baseball. The goal was to be 10-1 at the end of the week. Now we have to accept the challenge with Seventy-First."

Getting his first two non-pitching starting assignments of the season over the course of the last three games, Herbert's first inning single was his fifth in as many at-bats. He was retired for the first time on an infield ground out in the third inning.

"Joe was positive and continued to work hard," Hewitt said of the junior's wait for opportunity to knock. "I think he does a great job with two strikes."

Also watching a no-hit pitching performance for the second night in a row at Jack Britt were three members of the Hoke County coaching staff. Hoke pitcher Ronald Womack did not allow a hit in an 8-0 victory over Scotland on Tuesday while striking out 15 batters. The junior left-hander struck out 20 Purnell Swett batters in an earlier game. Pinecrest, Hoke and Richmond Senior each have one league loss as the mid-point of the season nears.

R H E

Pinecrest 5 1 0 2 4 12 12 1

Jack Britt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

A. MacDonald and Fredericks. Coyton, Drew (4), Dowdy (5) and Lopez; WP A. MacDonald (4-0) LP Coyton. Leading hitters Gibson 3-3, RBI, Maples 2-3, DB, 2 RBI, Baldwin 2-3, DB, 2 RBI, Herbert 1-2, 2 RBI, T. MacDonald 1-2, 2 RBI.