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The Parry McCluer High School baseball season concluded with a pair of tough fiveinning losses last week, a 12-0 setback at Narrows in the Pioneer District finals last Monday and a 13-1 defeat at home against Galax in the Region 1C quarterfinals on Thursday.
In the district championship game at top seed Narrows, the second-seeded Fighting Blues (13-9 overall, 8-4 district) had a tough time hitting against pitcher Carson Crigger, managing just one hit. Pitching the first 4.2 innings, Crigger struck out eight and allowed one walk.. Coming in to pitch for the final out was Brody Robertson, throwing a strikeout.
With last Monday’s victory, Narrows defended its district title. In the district finals last year at Narrows, the Green Wave overcame the Blues 7-6.
Narrows, which swept the Blues during the regular season this year, went 12-0 in the district, The Green Wave would improve to 18-1 with a 7-2 win over Grayson County in the Region 1C quarterfinals on Thursday.
“Narrows has some talent, along with veteran players,” said PM head coach Bryan Loy. “I think, with that combination, they have a chance to make a run in the region and place themselves in the state tournament. Once you make it there, anything can happen. I wish Narrows all the best in the rest of their season.”
The Green Wave took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Crigger singled on a line drive to third base to bring home Max McGlothlin.
Narrows added five runs in the second to go up 6-0. For the game, the Blues committed seven errors, while the Green Wave had one. The Green Wave carried the momentum into the third inning, scoring the final six runs of the game. Hunter Owens singled on a hard grounder to drive in Sam Albert, Robertson scored on an error, and McGlothlin singled on a line drive to center field to bring home Owens and Reed Perdue. After Narrows loaded the bases, Albert was hit by a pitch, driving in McGlothlin, and Robertson walked to bring home Crigger for the final run. The game ended in five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Narrows recorded seven hits against three PM pitchers. Mc-Glothin had two hits and three RBIs, and Perdue added two hits. Jase Barger registered the Blues’ lone hit, a double on a line drive to center field in the top of the fourth.
On the mound for PM, Tyler Wade pitched the first two innings, allowing four hits, three walks and six runs (three earned). In the third, Peyton Ramsey struck out two and surrendered three hits, three walks and six runs (three earned). Maison Hamilton came to the mound for the fourth inning, striking out two and allowing no hits, one walk and no runs.
Galax 13, PM 1
The Blues suffered a seasonending 13-1 home loss to Galax (13-8) in the Region 1C quarterfinals on Thursday.
“We fell short of our goal this year,” said Loy. “Going against Galax in the quarters was a tough draw. They are a wellcoached and talented team. Their first five guys could really hit and it showed.”
The Maroon Tide took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when AJ Ashworth doubled on a line drive to center field to bring home Jayson Stuart and Riley Jo Vaught.
PM cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first when Barger scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Ramsey.
Galax answered with three runs in the third to extend its lead to 5-1. Stuart singled on a hard grounder to center field to drive in Kale Carter, and Vaught singled on a hard grounder to shortstop to bring home Kolton Barnes, and Stuart scored on the throw.
In the fourth, the Maroon Tide erupted for six more runs. Ayden White scored on a wild pitch, and Ashworth doubled on a line drive to right field to bring home Barnes and Stuart. Damian Heath then scored on a sacrifice fly to second base, and Ashworth scored on an error. Brody Robinson then ran home on a sacrifice fly to left field by Carter to stretch Galax’s lead to 11-1. In the fifth, White and Heath scored on PM errors to end the game.
Galax racked up nine hits against two pitchers, while the Blues recorded three hits against two pitchers. Ashworth had two hits and led the Maroon Tide with four RBIs, while Vaught and White each added two hits. Recording one hit each for PM were Wade, Brayden Holdren and Cole Mills.
William Austin pitched the first four innings for the Blues, striking out two and allowing three hits, two walks and one earned run. In the fifth, Simon Hanks struck out one and surrendered no hits, no walks and no runs.
Brayden Houck pitched the first 3.1 innings for PM, striking out one and allowing eight hits, four walks and 11 runs (nine earned). Ramsey came to the mound for the final 1.2 innings, striking out one and surrendering one hit, no walks and no earned runs.
Reviewing the game, Loy said was proud of his players for their effort. “Our guys battled like they have all year and never gave up,” he said.
Loy, completing his sixth year as the Blues’ head coach, said his team “faced adversity in a number of ways this year, and our guys continued to respond. We finished the season with 13 wins. That wasn’t our goal, but at the end of the day, with what we faced this year, I’d say that’s a win.”
The Blues had a young team, with five sophomores on the roster. An injury to Barger kept him sidelined from late April until the district tournament started two weeks ago. Barger was instrumental in one of the Blues’ biggest wins this season, pitching well and hitting a three-run home run a 6-5 home victory over rival Rockbridge County on April 14.
Optimistic about the future, Loy said, “The positive thing is we will have everyone back except one senior, Maison Hamilton,” added Loy.
Reflecting on Hamilton’s career and impact on the team, Loy said, “Maison was a huge part of the program. He was a joy to coach, and I appreciate everything he did for our program in his years here.”
