The early-season woes continued for the Parry McCluer High School baseball team, as the Blues opened Pioneer District play with a 15-0 home loss on Tuesday of last week in Buena Vista.
Visiting Eastern Montgomery took advantage of 10 PM errors, jumping out to a 10-0 lead after the first inning. The loss was the third straight to open the season for the Blues, while the Mustangs, who committed just one error, ended the week at 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the Pioneer District.
Seven of PM’s errors came in the opening frame, and the Blues also issued three walks in the inning. The Mustangs did have three of their six hits in the inning, with Raylan Conner driving in two runs with a double and Logan Owen and Coltin Conner each plating runs with singles.
Marshall Tate led the Mustangs with two hits, while Raylan Conner and Owen each had two RBIs.
Meanwhile, the PM offense struggled. The Blues mustered only one hit in the five innings played, that coming off the bat of Kyler Ramsey with two outs in the fifth before the game ended early due to the 10-run mercy rule.
The Blues did have an early scoring chance when Adison Haynes was hit by a pitch to lead off the second and Lane Luckton followed with a walk. But EM hurler Mason Phoenix shut that potential rally down, getting a strikeout, a ground ball back to the mound and a pop-up in the infield to end the threat.
Phoenix picked up the win with his three innings of work, allowing no hits, two walks and striking out three. Caleb Jones cleaned up in relief, recording five strikeouts, one walk and the lone PM hit in his two innings on the mound.
Four PM hurlers took the mound and allowed only five earned runs. Haynes was the hard-luck loser after giving up three hits, three walks and three earned runs while striking out one.
The Blues were scheduled to play at home against Jefferson Christian Academy yesterday and will play host to William Fleming on Friday at 5 p.m. They’ll start next week at Rocktown on Monday at 5 p.m. before returning to district action at home against Narrows on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
FIGHTING BLUE junior Curtis King takes a swing. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
PM’s KYLER Ramsey and Eastern Montgomery infielders await the pitch. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
