MONTEREY — This past Tuesday night at Ed Crigler Field was a good one for baseball. The sun felt good on the back, the crowd was buzzing, and both teams were ready to play.
It was a winning night for the Highland Rams as they run-ruled Pocahontas County, 15-5.
The Rams got things going quickly in the bottom half of the first, scoring seven runs. John Wagner and Zach Armstrong each had a double and seven different Rams crossed home plate. Both Armstrong and Elijah Good had two runs batted in with Evan Kimble, Patton Hull and Michael Campbell adding one more RBI each.
The Rams scored two more runs in the second inning with Colton Williams hitting a sacrifice fly RBI and Hull hitting an RBI single. The game at this point was 9-0, Rams.
The Pocahontas County Warriors opened things up in the top of the third, knocking in five runs. Devin Armstrong started with an RBI single and Dillon Dunz contributed with a two-run triple. Matthew McQuain helped with a two-run double. The Rams were up 9-5 after the third inning.
The bottom of the fourth saw the Rams score two more runs with Zack Wright and Eli Moore each hitting sacrifice fly RBI. Ethan Moore hit a double, bringing the Rams up 11-5.
In the fifth inning, the Rams chipped in with three more runs led by Williams slamming a two-run shot over the right field fence. It was his third homer of the season. Williams said after the game that as soon as he hit it, he knew it was gone. Campbell added another run batted in.
The sixth inning saw the Rams add one more run to make the final score 15-5 — a run-rule win. Evan Kimble scored the last run with an RBI by Good.
Ethan Moore, Williams, Good, and Eli Moore all pitched for the Rams, combining to scatter seven hits, walk four and strike out nine. Ethan Moore picked up the win.
“I was very happy to get some work in for the pitchers,” said coach J.D. Hiner. “Very happy about Elijah pitching — it was his first real action on the mound. Not bad for a freshman and great for his confidence.”
The Rams went to Eastern Montgomery on Friday and lost a 12-2 Pioneer District decision.
The Mustangs scored seven times in the home half of the fourth to take the lead and ended the run-rule victory by plating two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Coltin Conner had three hits, scored two runs, and drove in two for East Mont, and Tyler Atkinson had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI.
Austin Tate went the distance on the mound, allowing eight hits and striking out three.
Ethan Moore had two hits for the Rams, while Campbell, Wagner, Williams, Armstrong, Eli Moore and Hull had one apiece.
Ethan Moore took the loss on the mound, giving up six runs — only two earned — and striking out six over 3.1 innings. Armstrong and Eli Moore pitched in relief, combining to give up four hits and two earned runs.
Highland (4-2 Pioneer District, 6-5 overall) hosted Eastern Montgomery in a rematch on Tuesday and play at Pocahontas County, W.Va., today.
Last Thursday’s Linescore
Pocahontas 005 000 - 5 7 4
Highland 720 231 - 15 9 0
WP: Ethan Moore (1-2); LP: Devon Burgess
HR: Colton Williams (5th inning, 1 on)
Last Friday’s Linescore
Highland 100 010 - 2 8 4
East Mont. 000 732 - 12 9 0
WP: Austin Tate; LP: Ethan Moore (1-3)