The Salem High baseball team finished the regular season with a flourish to clinch a spot in the Region 4D tournament. Salem is scheduled to open on May 22nd and the Spartans will be either the second or third seed in the region’s south division. Blacksburg and Christiansburg still had a game to play at press time, and if Christiansburg wins Salem will be the second seed and host Blacksburg. If the Bruins win the Spartans will be the third seed and open the region at Blacksburg next Wednesday. Salem finished the regular season in dominating fashion, outscoring five opponents by a total of 70-4 to close out a 16-4 campaign.
They beat Roanoke Catholic on May 2nd, 25-3, then downed Christiansburg on May 3rd, 13-0. Last week they shut out Lord Botetourt and Pulaski County, both by 10-0 scores, then won at Patrick Henry Monday, 12-1, for their fifth straight mercy rule win of the month. The Spartans needed a strong finish, as the South Division of Region 4D is a good one. Last week’s game with Lord Botetourt at Billy Sample Field was important and Trace Monroe came up big with a four hit shutout of the second place team in the Blue Ridge District.
Monroe struck out nine and walked just two in picking up his fifth win of the season. The Salem offense gave Monroe some room to work with when they scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Carter Black led off with a triple in the left-field corner, Monroe drew a walk and Caleb Furmage singled on a line drive to right field, scoring Black. Mason Hale drew a walk and James Buckles singled on a ground ball to right field, scoring two more runs. Still with no outs and two runners on, Thomas Millard blasted a home run just left of the scoreboard for a 6-0 lead after one inning. The Spartans ended the game by mercury rule in the bottom of the fifth when Buckles led off with a double to the left-center field gap, Millard reached on an infield error and Chase Rutledge singled in the 10th run, lining the ball to right field.
On Friday the Spartans hosted Pulaski County, a team that beat them the first time around in Dublin. It was the last regular season home game for the seniors, and with a region playoff berth on the line the Spartans came out with hot bats, jumping out to an 8 – 0 lead after the two innings. Senior Wilson Rakes singled twice with bases loaded and two outs to drive in half of Salem’s runs. Rakes collected three hits and five RBIs on the night. Senior catcher Furmage was two-for-four with an RBI, Buckles was one-for-two and Ryan Coe batted in a run in the sixth to help end the game by mercy rule.
Carter Black pitched all six innings for the Spartans, earning his 5th win. He struck out seven, walked none and gave up just two hits on 69 pitches. On Monday the Spartans made up a previously rained out game with Patrick Henry and senior Evan Fletcher earned his second win of the season on the mound, throwing four innings of two-hit ball. Keegan Craighead pitched the fifth inning, striking out three PH hitters to end the game. Offensively, Rakes stayed hot with three hits and three RBIs. Buckles also had three hits, Owen Dewalt drove in two and Black had a triple. The Spartans now have eight straight days off before opening region play next week. Despite a 16-4 record they didn’t make the two-team River Ridge District championship game, as Cave Spring and Blacksburg will play for that honor Friday.
