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PM Baseball Team Takes Down Narrows
With a strong all-around performance, the Parry McCluer High School baseball team earned a 5-2 road win over twotime defending Pioneer District champion Narrows in the district opener last Wednesday.
The Fighting Blues (2-1), who last faced Narrows (4-3) when they suffered a 12-0 loss in the district championship game last May, got an impressive pitching performance from junior Braedyn Houck and hit well against two tough Narrows pitchers.
Houck pitched a complete game, striking out eight while allowing three hits, three walks and two unearned runs.
“This was a big win for us to open district play,” said PM head coach Bryan Loy. “Houck pitched a gem and was in full command on the mound.”
“I thought our defense played well behind Houck and made key plays when we needed to,” added Loy. “Battling at the plate to come up with timely hits and driving up the pitch count was key.”
The Blues, who were swept in last year’s regular-season series with Narrows, scored first last Wednesday. PM took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Aaron Pruett doubled on a line drive to right field to bring home Tyler Wade.
Narrows answered with Carson Crigger scoring on a PM error to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first. In the top of the third, PM went up 2-1 when Wade scored on a passed ball.
The Blues added three runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 5-1. Wade singled on a line drive to center field to bring home Braden Conley, and Tanner Coleman and Jase Barger then walked to load the bases before Pruett walked to bring home Wade. Tanner Coleman scored PM’s final run by reaching home on a wild pitch.
PM kept the Green Wave from scoring again until the seventh inning when Sam McGlothlin ran home on a fielder’s choice, but Coleman then ended the game with a catch in center field.
The Blues recorded eight hits while holding Narrows to three. Coleman led PM with three hits, while Brayden Holdren added two. Registering one hit each for PM were Barger, Wade and Pruett, who led the Blues with two RBIs.
Of his batters, Loy said Coleman “had a big day at the plate, as well as others contributing with key hits and heads-up base running.”
Recording one hit each for Narrows were McGlothlin Tucker Bryan and Carter Holmes.
On the mound for the Green Wave, Crigger pitched the first four innings, striking out 10 and allowing five hits, four walks and five runs (four earned). Bryan pitched three innings of relief, striking out seven and surrendering three hits, no walks and no runs.
PM committed two errors, while Narrows had one.
The Blues were scheduled to play host to Rockbridge County on Monday before traveling to Eastern Montgomery yesterday. They’ll play host to Grace Christian School on Monday and then return to Pioneer District action at home against Bath County on Tuesday, with both games starting at 5 p.m.
