The Craig County baseball team qualified for the Region 1C tournament with a win over Highland County last Friday in the first round of the Pioneer District playoffs. The Rockets were scheduled to meet Parry McCluer in the second round on Monday, and win or lose they’ll be back in action next Monday, May 20th.
The Rockets ended the regular season on a high note, defeating Class 5 William Fleming in New Castle last Wednesday, 16-3. Matthew Lucas, Drew Duncan and Hayden Reynolds combined to pitch a five inning no-hitter against the Colonels. The three seniors combined to strike out eight, walk eight and give up three unearned runs while pitching an inning and two-thirds each.
The Rockets scored 16 runs on nine hits, drew six walks and were hit by a pitch three other times. Jaycob Wolfe had two hits, drove in two runs and scored three times. Isaiah Wente also drove in two and Lucas scored three times and had a double.
Craig ran wild on the bases, stealing 15 bags. Wolfe had three steals and Reyndolds, Wente, Duncan and Luke Potter had two steals each.
On Friday the Rockets opened the Pioneer District tournament with a 7-6 win at Highland County. Craig trailed 4-1 after three innings but scored four in the top of the fourth and two in the top of the sixth to take a 7-4 lead, then held on in the bottom of the seventh as Highland cut the lead to one run before the Rockets got the final out.
Reynolds started and pitched five and a third innings for the win, allowing three hits. Lucas came on with one out in the sixth and finished the game to pick up the save.
Offensively, Potter had three hits, including two doubles, and scored twice. Wolfe, Reynolds and Cam Huffman had two hits each in the win.
The Rockets took a 5-10 overall record to Buena Vista Monday for a second round game with Parry McCluer. Win or lose, they’ll play again next Monday at a site to be determined.
The baseball team has also clinched a spot in the region tournament at a site to be determined. That will begin on May 23rd.
