Craig County’s Dakota Henderson pitches against East Mont in a district tournament game.
It took three trips to Elliston, but the Craig County baseball team came up victorious in a first round Pioneer District game against Eastern Montgomery last week.
The Rockets took a bus to Elliston on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as inclement weather postponed action the first two days. Craig finally completed the first round game with a 6-4 win, but after that the rest of the tournament was rained out and the Rockets moved on to the Region 1C tournament this week.
“We won two games and made it to the regional,” said Craig coach Brady Price.
Craig County second baseman Jesse Brizendine scoops a grounder to start a double play for the Rockets against East Mont.
The Rockets took a 2-7 record with an equal number of rainouts into this week’s regional. The Rockets were scheduled to play at Galax on Monday, but results were too late for publication. The winner advances to the semifinals at Felts Park in Galax on Wednesday, and the championship game is Friday in Galax. The two finalists advance to the state tournament.
Craig used three pitchers in the win over East Mont last week. Dakota Henderson pitched the first two days but couldn’t continue Wednesday due to VHSL pitching rules. He pitched into the third inning before Jesse Brizendine relieved, and Jesse pitched the fourth and fifth. Then Devin Hutchison came on to pitch the sixth and seventh and get the save.
Craig County’s Jake Robertson takes a cut at a Eastern Montgomery pitch during a first round district tournament game on Tuesday.
At the plate, Dakota was three for four with an RB and Devin was three for five with a triple and a run batted in.
If the Rockets won Monday they would face the winner of a game between Covington and Bland County on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.
