Zach Armstrong was the winning pitcher in the win over Pocahontas.
MONTEREY — Two out of three ain’t bad.
Highland won games last week over Pocahontas County and Richwood, W.Va., before dropping a contest at Grace Christian on Monday to begin its 2024 baseball season.
The Rams racked up 31 runs, 22 hits and stole 15 bases combined in a 12-4 season-opening win at home against Pocahontas County last Wednesday and a 19-4 road victory in Richwood Thursday.
In the home victory, Highland trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of fourth, before putting up eight in the frame, keyed by an Elijah Good two-run homer.
John Wagner led the offense with three hits, Zach Armstrong added two and Wyatt Clevinger and Eli Moore joined Good with one apiece. Good drove in three runs and Evan Kimble walked three times.
Good, Moore and Armstrong all pitched for Highland, with Armstrong getting the win, shutting out the Warriors over the final 1.1 innings. Moore struck out 10 in 3.2 innings.
Nicholas Hendrick had a hit and drove in three for Pocahontas County.
Wyatt Clevinger runs the bases for the Rams in last Wednesday’s win over Pocahontas County. (Photos courtesy Lori Humphries)
Last Thursday, Highland scored 10 times in the top of the third in a run-rule win in Richwood.
The Rams had 14 hits, including six extra-base knocks.
Kimble had four hits, scored three times and drove in three to lead the way; Wagner added three hits and Armstrong and Patton Hull had two each.
Zack Wright, Good and Tristan Carpenter all chipped in one hit.
Armstrong drove in four runs and scored three times and Wagner joined Kimble with three RBI each.
Wagner pitched the complete-game victory, allowing just three hits and one earned run, while striking out nine.
Owen Wayne had a hit and drove in a run for the Lumberjacks.
Monday in a game played at the Stuarts Draft Diamond Club, the Rams managed just a pair of hits in a 12-3 loss to Grace Christian.
Hull had a leadoff single in the first for Highland and Armstrong added a two-out single in the third. Moore scored a pair of runs.
Moore started and was one of five Rams who toed the rubber.
Elijah Good celebrates with teammates after a home run.
Moore, Wagner, Hull, Armstrong and Good combined to give up nine hits, 11 earned runs, strike out 11 and walk seven.
Winning pitcher Davis Reid and Landon Wright both had two hits and drove in three runs for Grace Christian. Reid went four innings on the mound, allowing both Highland hits and three unearned runs.
“I’m encouraged by the start of the season, considering our limited practice time on the field,” said first-year HHS coach Cole Armstrong. “We are just getting warmed up. I’m excited for the rest of the season.”
The Rams open their Pioneer District schedule today with a home doubleheader against Craig County.
