With Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference play beginning this week, Patterson Mill baseball hosted crosstown rival Bel Air for an early showdown Friday. While the score remained close for most of the game, a patient sixth inning for the Huskies would lead to a 7-0 win.

The Huskies got things going early in the first against Bel Air starter Cooper Rey. A Trey McInnes double drove in Logan Scheeler for an early 1-0 lead.

Patterson Mill built on its lead in the bottom of the third. After Scheeler singled to center, a Kieth Reedy sacrifice bunt put Scheeler in scoring position with one out. Two wild pitches in the same at-bat brought Scheeler home to make it 2-0.

As the Huskies were manufacturing runs inning by inning, it would not have been possible without starting pitcher Noah Thomas and his performance. Through four innings, the southpaw had not surrendered a hit while striking out three Bobcats.

“He’s our guy that we go in big games,” Patterson Mill coach Matt Roseland said. “Noah gives us a chance to win every time he toes the rubber… We’re gonna ride him in as our go-to ace his senior year.”

Toward the end of the game, Patterson Mill began taking advantage of a tired and frustrated Bel Air pitching staff. In the bottom of the fifth, a double from Mason Hemelt scored McInnes to make it a 3-0 ballgame.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Huskies built on their lead via patience. The Bobcats were not giving them anything to hit, but the Huskies were not chasing. Four walks, two hit by pitches and a sacrifice fly from Jayden Stabile grew the Patterson Mill lead to 7-0.

Thomas was the best player on the diamond. In addition to a seven-inning complete game shutout on 85 pitches, he also knocked in an RBI and earned two walks. McInnes also had a solid day at the plate. The Patterson Mill catcher drove in a pair of runs on a hit and two walks. He also stole two bases.

“It’s not easy to win in our league, every team can beat you at any point,” Roseland said. “We gotta show up every day.”

Patterson Mill’s record now stands at 5-1, while Bel Air’s record stands at 2-5. These two teams face off again at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Bel Air.