Pitching deep Pinecrest found another big-game pitcher at John Williams Field Friday night.

Sophomore Dillon Maples pitched a three-hitter and struck out 15 batters as the Patriots defeated Richmond Senior 4-1. A two-run single by Taylor MacDonald in the second inning staked the home team to a 3-0 lead against Raider ace Ricky Holden.

The win ended a two-game conference losing streak that saw the Patriots (7-3 league, 14-4 overall) drop from the top of the standings into a tie for third place with the Raiders (6-4, 12-6) behind Hoke County and Scotland County.

Disappointed in his players' response to a big-game situation in Tuesday's 3-2 loss at Scotland County, Patriot coach Jeff Hewitt was thrilled by Friday's turnaround.

"We had two great practices and we had a heart-to-heart before the game," he said. "It's been awhile since the Raiders won here (2004) and we challenged the kids to keep it going. The intensity was out of this world. My dad was a football coach and I just love intensity."

In Maples' last mound appearance against Eastern Wayne on April 14, he plunked three batters during an ineffective inning of relief.

"I had a few rough starts before this," he said afterward, "but coach decided to give me the ball -- and I really wanted the ball. The first and second innings, I was a little nervous and then I settled down."

Maples' first pitch of the game to Raider lead-off batter Brent Franklin sailed all the way to the backstop. In the first two innings, he hit three batters. A Raider base-running blunder helped him escape unscathed in the first. An inning-ending double play started by sophomore second baseman Bailey Rush, rescued him in the second.

Meanwhile the Patriots were making inroads against Holden, who shut them out on four hits in Rockingham a month ago.

Andrew MacDonald picked up a bad-hop infield single to start the bottom of the first. He went all the way to third as the Raiders misplayed Maples' sacrifice bunt. He scored as the Raiders erred again on a ground ball hit by Trent Fredericks.

Sophomore Patrick Moore and Maples had singles as the Patriots loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the second to bring Taylor MacDonald to the plate. MacDonald, who struck out his first time up, came with a plan.

"I was looking for a fast ball," he said. "Coach told me to put my foot down and be aggressive."

MacDonald lashed Holden's first pitch into left field, scoring Moore and Andrew MacDonald, who had walked, making it 3-0.

"That was probably one of my biggest hits as a Pinecrest Patriot right there," he said. "It felt great."

A double by Dylan Davenport gave the Raiders their first hit in the top of the third. In the bottom half, Joey Grady and Moore had singles as the Pats loaded the bases against Holden again. With two outs, Andrew MacDonald beat out a bunt down the third base line, scoring Grady to make it 4-0.

"He's been doing that since he was five years-old," Taylor MacDonald said of his brother. "That was his trademark."

Topping out at 90 miles per hour with his fastball, and at 78 with his crackling "slurve", Maples was a strike out machine the rest of the way. Starting with the last two batters in the fourth, the final 11 Raider outs came via strikeouts. Only a long home run by Luke Bullard in the sixth spoiled his shutout.

"A pressure-packed game and we give the ball to a sophomore," Hewitt said. "We could have gone either way right now. In my opinion, that was one of my top three outings (pitching) since I've been here -- unbelievable."

Maples improved to 2-0 on the season. Holden, 5-2, also went on a late strikeout binge, finishing with 14. The right-hander allowed eight hits, including two-each by Andrew MacDonald, Maples and Moore.

The Patriots will face another huge game on Tuesday when they travel to Hoke County (7-2, 15-3). Buck phenom, Ronald Womack (5-0) is expected to take the ball for the home team.

"You're starting to see some passion," Hewitt said. "If we can keep, loving what we're doing, we've got a special team no doubt about it."

R H E

Richmond 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 2

Pinecrest 1 2 1 0 0 0 - 4 8 1

Holden and A. Snead; Maples and Fredericks; WP- Maples 2-0 LP- Holden 5-2; Leading hitters (R) Davenport 1-3, 2B, Bullard 1-2, HR, RBI (P) A. MacDonald 2-3, RBI, T. MacDonald 1-3, 2 RBI, Moore 2-3, Maples 2-3, 2B.