CARROLLTON, Ala. — Preston Pogue and Jeff White have been playing together long enough that they know when the other one is going to have a good day.

The good news for the Pickens Academy baseball team is when Pogue or White is having a good day, the other one usually is going to do just as well.

Friday was a perfect example, as White and Pogue delivered strong starts in the opening round of the Alabama Independent School Association Class AA playoffs to send the Pirates on to the next round.

White, a junior right-hander, allowed two hits and struck out five in six innings before giving way to Pogue in a 4-0 victory against Wilcox Academy. In Game 2, Pogue scattered three hits and struck out eight in six innings to lead Pickens Academy to a 10-1 victory.

For their accomplishments, Pogue and White are The Dispatch’s Prep Players of the Week.

“I feel really good about it,” White said of the season to date. “We have had a good year on the mound.”

The wins helped Pickens Academy improve to 15-6 and set up a meeting Thursday against Northside Methodist in Dothan, Alabama, in the best-of-three series.

Pogue, a senior right-hander, is 5-2 with a team-leading 1.91 ERA in a team-high 12 appearances. He has allowed 25 hits and walked 22 in 36 2/3 innings. He has struck out 52 and is holding opponents to a .182 batting average. White is right behind him at 5-1 and a 2.29 ERA in 11 games. In 36 2/3 innings, White has allowed 28 hits and 16 walks. He has struck out 45 and is holding opponents to a .194 batting average.

White, who had two hits in Game 2 against Wilcox Academy, also had been a key contributor at the plate. Playing first and third base when he doesn’t pitch, White is hitting a team-best .350 with a team-high 21 hits. He is third behind Brant Criswell and Will Jones in runs scored (14). He also is tied with Jones for the team lead in RBIs (19).

Pickens Academy coach Brach White, who is Jeff’s father, said both players have been fixtures in the rotation for the past three seasons. He said both players have matured and learned how to use their defense and to mix their pitches so they don’t have to shoulder the burden of striking every hitter out.

“They’re definitely our go-to guys,” coach White said. “Both of them have good control and they can throw their off-speed pitches any time in the count. As long as they can throw their offspeed, they’re going to be successful. I can usually tell pretty quick if they are going to be able to stay out there or not. They are going to do a good job and compete when they are out there.”

Jeff White said he could tell warming up he was feeling good. He said he had a feel for his breaking ball and proved it by throwing it for the first three pitches and getting a strikeout to open the game.

“I knew I could trust it and rely on it the rest of the game,” White said.

White said he and Pogue feed off each other after playing together for so long. It worked out that way Friday, as his breaking pitches were working well and Pogue followed suit by using his breaking pitches and his knuckleball to keep hitters off balance.

“We know we have to be ready,” White said. “We know how to keep ourselves composed out there.”

Pogue said he has played with White ever since Little League, so he knows when his teammate is on. He said he could tell right away against Wilcox Academy that Pickens Academy was going to have a good day.

“I think he set the tone really well and they were pretty much done after the first game,” Pogue said. “Ever since he was in the ninth grade and I was in the 10th grade, we started taking over just about all of the varsity games.”

Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor

Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.