“It always helps when Jay gets on,” Batson said. “It sets the tone. It seems like we follow him.”

Wednesday night at J.P. Frans Stadium, Sitzman got on. A lot.

And Batson followed by getting on base. A lot.

The result was a combined eight-hit performance by Sitzman and Batson, the 1-2 Weevils in the order. And that was only half the total number of hits for Piedmont in a resounding 11-4 victory over the Crawdads.

Piedmont thus swept the two-game series in Hickory, giving the Weevils a 41

Regardless of what happens here, the Weevils proved why they carry the best record (35-18) in the league. They pounded three Crawdad pitchers into submission.

“You’ve got the second place team on your heels and it’s fun to play them,” said Batson, who stroked four singles, scored two runs and had three RBIs. “Tonight, everybody hit like we know we can.”

While the BatMan’s showing was gargantuan, Super Sitzman was even better. He finished with — in order — a triple, homer, single, single, walk. He scored four times.

“We were really stroking it,” smiled the Arizona State product. “It opens up the plate and everybody feels good.”

And that means everybody, including No. 8 hitter Brian Hitchcox. He had two hits and finished off the Crawdads with an in-your-face, ninth-inning homer for the final run and the 16th hit for Piedmont.

“When you see the guys at the top of the lineup hitting, you look forward to getting up there,” Hitchcox said.

Hitchcox’s mouth was watering as soon as the game began. The top of the first inning went something like this:

Sitzman triple. Batson single. Marlon Byrd single. Nate Espy RBI groundout. Jorge Padilla triple. Eric Schreimann single.

Whew.

“You see that and think this might be the night you get five at-bats,” Hitchcox said.

The quick 4-0 advantage had the Crawdads frustrated quickly. The frustration grew in the second.

No. 9 hitter Julio Collazo opened with a single and Sitzman followed by crushing a Justin Reid pitch over the left-field wall.

In the fourth, Piedmont loaded the bases and Espy ripped a shot off Josh Bonifay’s glove at second for another run. Batson scored on a passed ball and it was 8-2.

“Give our hitters credit,” said manager Greg Legg. “It was one of those games where we swung the bat. But so did they.”

So much so that Weevils starter Matire Franco was chased after allowing the first two Crawdads to reach in the bottom of the fifth. As much as he wanted the 19-year old to go five and get the decision, Legg was forced to replace him after he allowed nine hits and four earned runs.

“He’s been getting better and better and you want to send him back out there,” Legg said. “But Matire just didn’t have it tonight.”

Reliever Matt Bailie did. He got out of the fifth with two strikeouts, struck out two more in the sixth and struck out three in the seventh.

“Bailie gave us a big lift,” said Legg. He saved two runs for Matire. We gave him a run here and a run there.”

Batson knocked in Sitzman, Hitchcox singled and scored on a Batson hit and in the ninth, Hitchcox sent a high fly over the right-field wall.

“That was a joke,” Hitchcox laughed.

Hickory wasn’t taking it as a joke. In the ninth, Crawdad manager Jay Loviglio had seen enough. He got thrown out while arguing with the umpires but before leaving, did his best Billy Martin impression. He kicked dirt on the plate, then bent over and smoothed it with both hands.

It was the loudest cheer from the home team in two nights and rightfully so. The Weevils continued their domination of the league’s top-hitting team.

“This puts us in a good situation,” said Legg, trying his best not to get too giddy. “There’s still a lot to be done.”

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