Grayson silences Century bats, leading Highland to win in final non-con game of season
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POCATELLO — Behind a dominant outing from starter Garrett Grayson and offensive production up and down the lineup, the Highland Rams finished their non-conference schedule with a home victory over the Century Diamondbacks, Saturday.
Grayson pitched a stout 4-1/3 innings, holding Century (5-13, 1-2) to a single hit, while striking out four. The Rams (8-8, 3-2) backed that stellar start with multi-run innings in the first, second and third, running away for a 10-0 win in a five-inning mercy rule-shortened game.
Highland head coach Christian Colonel said that Grayson was equal parts effective and efficient.
“He came out with some purpose today, with some intent — he got after it and filled up the zone,” Colonel said.
While the Diamondbacks were never able to piece together anything resembling a rally against the 6-foot-5 right-hander, Century starter Derek McCasland could not prevent the Highland offense from doing precisely that.
The Rams scored two runs in the first, after catcher and lead-off hitter Cannon Eddie got things started with a line drive single right past McCasland’s head.
Sophomore first baseman and three-hole hitter Kai Jones knocked Eddie in with a double to right field. Jones would add two more hits, including a second double, and score three runs on the day.
Colonel called Jones a “good athlete, good baseball player.”
“We really love him on the mound, and we really love his bat. He’s a mature kid, for being a sophomore. There’s a lot of potential in there,” the coach said.
Highland seized control of the game with a five-run second before knocking the Diamondbacks out with two more runs in the third and a 10th in the fourth, setting up the 10-run rule victory.
The Rams will finish the season with seven straight against 6A High Country Conference opponents, beginning Tuesday against the Trojans (5-11, 1-5) at Rigby High School.
As they chase the conference-leading Madison Bobcats (10-6, 5-2), Colonel said his Rams will need to remain focused on winning their games, not on what other teams are doing.
“We just need to play clean baseball from here on out — competitive, clean baseball — and come with a purpose every single day … and see where the cards fall,” he said.