Zach Armstrong and his teammates celebrate after a walk-off home run.
MONTEREY — It’s a spot the Highland Rams could get used to: The top of the Pioneer District standings.
Zach Armstrong hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth in the opener and pitched the complete-game victory in the nightcap of a 9-8, 5-3 district doubleheader sweep of Craig County here last Thursday.
The win lifted Highland to 4-1 overall and a 2-0 mark in the Pioneer.
“The boys were resilient against a tough Craig team,” said first-year head coach Cole Armstrong. “We had some great defensive plays that contributed to the wins. Every time Craig got some momentum, our boys fought back.”
Rocket Drew Duncan tied game one with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth, but Armstrong had the answer, a blast to right to start the bottom of the inning.
Armstrong had two hits, a triple and the home run, scored three times and drove in three for Highland and Evan Kimble reached base three times with a single and two walks.
John Wagner pitched the victory, giving up nine hits and striking out four in the five-inning complete game.
Evan Kimble squeezes a pop-up at third base.
Luke Potter had three hits for the Rockets and Hayden Reynolds was handed the pitching loss in relief.
In game two, Armstrong scattered four Craig County hits and struck out four to complete the sweep.
Wagner, Eli Moore, Elijah Good and Zack Wright all had a hit and an RBI for the Rams, while Armstrong and Kimble also had hits. Moore scored a pair of runs.
Duncan had two hits for Craig County and Reynolds was the losing pitcher.
Highland was scheduled to play at Bath County on Tuesday and is back in action at home on Monday, April 8, Tygarts Valley, W.Va.
Eli Moore tags a Craig County runner for third out to end the second game.
Tristan Carpenter is safe at third base during last Thursday’s Highland doubleheader sweep of Craig County. (Photos courtesy Lori Humphries)