Birthdays normally are not a big deal to Adam Cantrell. Tuesday was an exception.
On the occasion of their coach’s 36th birthday, the Providence Christian baseball team hit a school-record three grand slams and overpowered visiting Treutlen 15-4 in the deciding game of their Class A semifinal playoff series. The victory puts the Stars in the title series against Hebron Christian.
“That was a pretty nice birthday present,” said Cantrell, who also played for Providence Christian. “I’m not really one who has ever cared much about birthdays. But when guys play like they did, it’s a good birthday present.”
Providence Christian (26-11) looked more like the team that entered the semifinals averaging 13.4 runs than they did the one that lost 8-1 in the first game of the series. After hitting three homers in the 10-0 second game, the Stars added three more Tuesday — each with the bases loaded. Treutlen finished the season 30-6.
“Just like yesterday, they showed they weren’t ready to be done,” Cantrell said.
The first slam set the tone for the game. Tied 1-1, Providence Christian loaded the bases with two outs for junior Christin Stewart, who drove the first pitch he saw deep over the right-center field fence. It was Stewart’s 25th homer of the season, which extended his own Gwinnett County record.
It was one of the rare times that Stewart got a chance to swing the bat. He was walked intentionally five times in the doubleheader Monday and walked three more times Tuesday. Handed the rare opportunity to hit, Stewart took advantage.
“I knew they were going to have to pitch to me when the bases were loaded,” he said. “I was looking for something to hit and hit it hard. I was looking for a curve ball, and that’s what I got.”
Providence Christian got its other slams from Nick Stidham in the fifth inning, part of a rally that started with no one on base and two outs, and Tyler Brown in the sixth.
The winning pitcher was Patrick Smith, who allowed two runs and six hits and struck out two in four innings. Steven Slaughter pitched the final two innings. The losing pitcher was Devonte Pierce, who allowed seven runs, five earned, in four innings.
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