MONTEREY, Va. (VR) – A walk and batter being hit was the driving force behind the Highland Rams (5-4/4-1) comeback victory over the Covington Cougars (2-10/1-5) on Tuesday evening.
The Cougars were two outs away from a big Pioneer District victory, but an error, two walks and a batter being hit prevented that from happening.
After reclaiming the lead in the top half of the seventh inning thanks to a little defensive help from the Rams, the Cougars ,after securing the first out in the bottom of the seventh, gave help back to the Rams with an error that put the tying run on base.
A walk, followed by a single from Ethan Moore (2-for-4), loaded the bases. With one out still, Trey Cook (1-for-4) walked Zach Armstrong (0-for-2), which brought in John Wagner (0-for-3) to score the tying run. Cook would follow up the one-out walk by hitting Evan Kimble (0-for-2) on the second pitch of the at-bat which scored Wagner as the game’s winning run.
It was a tough loss for the Cougars, who had led all game with exception in the sixth inning, when the Rams tied the game at 3-3 and even out-hit their opponent 10-5.
Ethan Martin (2-for-4), David Crowder (1-for-3) and Dominick Davis (1-for-2) each had an RBI for the Cougars, while Martin, Hayden Rodgers (2-for-2) and Luke Conner (2-for-4) each had a two-hit performance at the plate. Conner had a lead-off triple in the seventh and would score on a Rams’ error which, at the time, was the go-ahead run that put the Cougars back in the lead at 4-3.
Landon Arritt (L/1-for-5) took the loss as he was charged with the two runs in the seventh inning scored by the Rams prior to Cook coming in the game. Arritt pitched 6.1 innings where he gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits, while walking six, and struck out seven. Cook faced just two batters during his time on the mound in relief of Arritt.
Moore and Colton Williams (2-for-3) led the Rams with two hits apiece, while Armstrong had a game-high two RBIs. Wagner pitched a no-decision after going four innings where he allowed three runs on nine hits, while walking two. and striking out six. Armstrong, who not only scored the winning run, and led the team in RBI’s, also picked up the win as he gave up one unearned run, one hit, walked one, and struck out four in three innings of work on the mound.
These two teams will meet again on Thursday, May 4th at Casey Field which will be the last home game ever in school history.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CHS 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 10 3
HHS 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 5 5 2
Cougars Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
Arritt, P/CF 5 1 1 0 0 1
Rodgers, SS 2 0 2 0 1 0
Conner, C 4 1 2 0 0 1
Martin, 3B 4 1 2 1 0 2
Hoke, LF 3 0 0 0 1 1
Cook, 2B/P 4 0 1 0 0 3
Crowder, 1B 3 1 1 1 0 0
Carper, RF/2B 3 0 0 0 0 1
Davis, DH 2 0 1 1 1 1
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TEAM 30 4 10 3 3 10
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Arritt (L) 6.1 5 5 4 6 7
Cook 0 0 0 0 1 0
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TEAM 6.1 5 5 4 7 7
Rams Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
Campbell,. SS 2 1 0 0 2 1
Hull, RF/CF 4 0 0 0 0 3
Wagner, P/1B 3 1 0 0 1 1
Williams, CF/2B 3 1 2 0 1 0
Moore, 3B 4 1 2 0 0 0
Armstrong, 1B/P 2 1 0 2 2 1
Kimble, LF 2 0 0 1 1 0
Moore, C 2 0 0 1 0 0
Good, 2B 1 0 0 1 0 0
Wright, RF 2 0 1 0 0 0
————————————————————–
TEAM 25 5 5 4 7 7
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Wagner 4 9 3 3 2 6
Armstrong (L) 3 1 1 0 1 4
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TEAM 7 10 4 3 3 10