PM Goes 2-1 In Baseball

TheParryMcCluerHighSchool baseball team won two of three games last week, suffering a 12-0 home loss to Altavista in six innings last Monday before earning two Pioneer District wins – 12-9 at Craig County last Wednesday and 7-1 at home against Narrows on Thursday.

Against Craig County (1-7 overall, 0-5 district), the Fighting Blues (7-3, 4-0) overcame a 3-1 deficit after the first inning. The Blues scored three runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead and added three more in the fourth to go up 7-3 The Rockets cut PM’s lead to 7-6, but the Blues scored three runs in the fifth to go up 10-6 and stayed ahead for the rest of the game.

Craig recorded seven hits, while PM had just two, one each from Brayden Holdren and Peyton Ramsey. “We didn’t hit the ball as we wanted to there, but we were able to draw some walks and had good eyes on the plate and ran the bases really well,” said PM head coach Bryan Loy. For the game, the Blues drew 15 walks, compared to two for Craig.

Luke Potter led the Rockets with two hits and two RBIs, while five other Rockets each had one hit.

On the mound for PM, Ramsey pitched the first 4.1 innings, striking out seven and allowing five hits, one walk and eight runs (three earned). “Peyton threw well for us,” said Loy.

Tanner Coleman pitched the next 1.1 innings, striking out two and surrendering two hits, one walk and one earned run. Tyler Wade then came to the mound and threw a strikeout for the final out.

Craig used four pitchers, combining for five strikeouts. PM committed three errors, while Craig had two.

PM 7, Narrows 1

The Blues earned a 7-1 home win over Narrows (9-4, 4-2) on Thursday in Buena Vista.

With the victory, PM completed a sweep of the regular-season series with Narrows, the defending Pioneer District champion. When the teams met on March 27 at Narrows, PM won 5-2.

“I think both games, both times we played them, were good,” said Loy.

Key to the win was Braedyn Houck, who pitched a complete game, striking out nine and allowing six hits, one walk and one earned run. Loy said Houck “pitched really well for us, and we played the glove behind him.”

PM’s batters performed well against Narrows starting pitcher Hunter Owens and relief pitcher Carson Crigger. In 3.2 innings, Owens struck out four and surrendered eight hits, three walks and six runs (four earned). In the final 2.1 innings, Crigger struck out five and allowed one hit, one walk and one earned run.

The Blues racked up 12 hits, while the Green Wave had four.

Holdren led PM with three hits, while Houck, Jase Barger and Braden Conley each had two hits. Crigger and Sam McGlothlin paced Narrows with two hits each.

Proud of his team’s offense, Loy said, “We had some good timely hitting and good, smart, heads-up base running today, beating out infield singles, just doing the little things.”

PM overcame four errors, while Narrows had two.

Reviewing how his team played on consecutive days, Loy said, “Having two district games backto- back, it’s always good when you can get both of them, especially with the one against Narrows.”

Altavista 12, PM 0

The Blues suffered an 12-0 home loss in six innings to Altavista (6-5) in nondistrict action on Monday of last week.

PM had just one hit against Altavista pitcher Ethan Inge, who struck out 15. Loy said Inge “was really good. He kept us off balance.”

Recording the Blues’ hit, a single in the fifth, was Holdren.

Altavista, meanwhile, racked up nine hits against five PM pitchers.

The Blues were hurt by seven errors, while the Colonels had none.

PM was scheduled to have a rematch at Altavista on Monday before playing host to Eastern Montgomery yesterday.

The Blues will play district rival Highland County twice, on Thursday in Monterey and Monday in Buena Vista, before playing at Bath County on Tuesday. All games are set for 5 p.m.