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The Parry McCluer High School baseball team earned an 11-2 win over Craig County in the Pioneer District semifinals on Monday of last week in Buena Vista.
The top-seeded Fighting Blues (13-5 overall, 9-1 district), who had won both regular-season games against the fifth-seeded Rockets (5-11, 3-7), trailed 1-0 after the first inning of the semifinal game after Jaycob Wolfe scored following a pickoff attempt, but the Blues tied the game 1-1 in the second when Tyler Wade singled to right field to bring home Brayden Holdren.
PM added two runs in the third to go up 3-1. With the bases loaded, Holdren walked to drive in Braedyn Houck. Tanner Coleman then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Wade.
The Rockets scored a run in the top of the fourth when Hayden Reynolds singled to left field to bring home Wolfe, but the Blues responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 6-2. With the bases loaded, Coleman walked to bring home Jordan Brockenbrough, and Curtis King then scored on a wild pitch. PM’s sixth run came when Houck scored on a wild pitch.
PM scored five runs in the sixth to put the game away. Holdren singled to right field to bring home Jase Barger and Aaron Pruett. Wade singled to left field to drive in Hodren, extending the Blues’ lead to 9-2. Wade then scored on a Craig error, and Peyton Ramsey scored PM’s final run when King singled to right field.
“It took us a while to get the bats going, but once we got them going, we were able to put together some good hits,” said PM head coach Bryan Loy.
The Blues racked up 10 hits, while Craig had six. Leading PM with two hits each were King, Ramsey and Wade. Hayden Reynolds paced the Rockets with two hits. Craig committed four errors, while PM had one.
On the mound, Wade pitched a complete game for PM, striking out six while allowing six hits, three walks and two earned runs. “I thought Tyler Wade pitched fine for us,” said Loy. “I thought we made some pretty good plays behind him as well.”
In the district finals, the Blues were scheduled to play host to second-seeded Narrows on Monday. (See separate story for the result.) PM will next compete in the Region 1C quarterfinals on Thursday. For the game time, opponent and location, visit www.thenews-gazette.com.
ABOVE, PM senior catcher Aaron Pruett tags out a Craig County baserunner. AT LEFT, Fighting Blue junior second baseman Brayden Holdren catches the ball as Craig County’s Joseph Charett slides toward the base and PM junior shortstop Braedyn Houck (9) watches. (Ronnie Coffey photos)
