PINETOWN — Zach Woolard pitched a complete-game shutout in an 8-0 win over Jones Senior on Friday night. Woolard, who struck out 14 batters, was efficient in only needing 89 pitches to dismantle the visiting Trojans.

Jones Senior got two on in the top of the seventh. With a runner nagging him on third base, Woolard buckled down to strike out Logan Jones to end the game. The win is Northside’s fourth in 1-A Coastal Plains Conference play. Its lone loss thus far was a one-run shortcoming against Pamlico County a week prior.

“The runner at third didn’t mean a whole lot,” Woolard said. “I knew my team had my back. We were up 8-0. If they had scored that run, it wouldn’t have affected me. I just kept doing what I do.”

Woolard has been instrumental to Northside’s strong campaign thus far. The Panthers have won nine of their first 10 games. He leads the pitching staff with three wins, and his 22 innings pitched is second on the team. He’s only allowed three earned runs on seven hits across his six appearances.

He and the rest of the pitchers have helped cushion the blow of losing infielders Breadon Burbage and Reg Bishop.

“With 14 strikeouts, we didn’t have to field many,” coach Keith Boyd said. “We had a sophomore starter, Dawson Boyd, at second base who made good plays for us. … Zach just kind of did his thing.”

Boyd and Brandon Marsh have been able to work with Woolard to help him be dangerous with his changeup and curve balls.

“(Marsh) was a pitcher himself. He played a little college baseball. He’s been a real asset to our coaching staff,” Boyd said. “His curveball was on tonight. When he’s got all three pitches working, got a little velocity, it’s tough to know what’s coming.”

The Panthers scraped together two runs in the second before blowing the game open with six runs between the fourth and fifth frames. James Barrow and Tanner Alligood each had a pair of hits. Grant Talbot and Matthew Marslender scored two times apiece.

The win gives Northside momentum ahead of a pivotal week. The Panthers travel to Bear Grass on Tuesday for a bout atop the league standings. The Bears are perfect on conference thus far. From there, they take two non-conference trips to North Pitt on Wednesday then Columbia on Friday.

“You’ve got to take care of business. We had a hiccup with Pamlico County,” Boyd said. “To have lost our starting second baseman and starting shortstop, have two long road trips, then come in here, it says a lot about the resilience of the team.”

Boyd said Bishop could be back after next week, but Burbage may not return this season.