Highlanders pick up first win against previously undefeated Salem

The old saying goes that baseball’s a funny game, and there’s a lot of truth to that.

Salem High played on Glenvar’s diamond last week, just a week and a day after the Spartans slaughter-ruled Glenvar at Kiwanis Park. Salem came to Glenvar with a 5-0 record and the Highlanders waited for them at 0-6, so what happens? Glenvar wins for the first time this season, 2-1.

This one was one of those good ole fashioned “pitching duals.” The Spartans scored one run in the top of the fourth but Glenvar answered with two in the bottom of the fifth and that was the extent of the offense.

Cale Vaughan was outstanding for Glenvar, pitching a complete game three-hitter with 10 strikeouts. He gave up a double to Mason Hale followed by an RBI triple to Thomas Millard in the fourth but worked out of the inning without further damage.

Meanwhile, Keegan Craighead was almost as good for Salem. He went six innings allowing just two runs, one earned, and had eight strikeouts while yielding just three hits. Peyton Deel had two of the hits and Cam Feazell had a big RBI single for the Highlanders.

“Beating Salem was a big confidence builder for us,” said Glenvar coach Jeremy Cromer. “It was an intense game until the last out and it proved we could play with anyone. We had scratched and clawed to that point with nothing to show for it.”

Glenvar made it two in a row on Tuesday and it was another great outing for Vaughan as the Highlanders shut out Radford, 3-0, at Glenvar. This time Cale allowed just one hit and struck out 15 Bobcats before Feazell got the last out when Vaughan reached his pitch count. Jack Osburn had two hits and Camden Summerville had a big RBI hit in the fourth inning for the first run of the game.

The Highlanders will try to make it three in a row today when they host Floyd. Feazell will start on the mound in that one.

Meanwhile, Salem played host to Hidden Valley on Tuesday and Trace Monroe broke the school strikeout record in an 8-0 win. He now has 207.

The Spartans, now 6-1, are at Northside today at 5 pm and Friday they play a jayvee-varsity doubleheader at Christiansburg starting with the jayvees at 5 pm.