By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Starting off on the right foot — so to speak — the Boone Bigfoots exploded for three runs in the bottom of the first inning against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms, added a couple more runs later and hung on to win, 5-4, on June 26 at Smith Stadium.

One of the hottest-hitting batters in the Coastal Plain League of late, Boone’s Michael Young wasted little time in crushing a towering fly ball over the left-centerfield fence, driving in not only himself but also the leadoff batter, designated hitter Tyler Martin, who walked to open the bottom half of the frame. Young has been shuffled up and down the Bigfoots’ batting order this season but the University of South Alabama’s CPL standout brings his power to wherever he’s inserted.

On the mound, Ray Euson faced 17 batters in four strong innings and was credited with the win as the Boone starting pitcher, allowing just four hits and one run, walking two and striking out a pair of HiToms batters.

The HiToms didn’t go away quietly. In the 7th inning, the visitors managed three runs off of two different Bigfoots pitchers who had “Born to be Wild” in their DNA on this night. Reliever Andrew Hart hit the HiToms’ Landon Peavy to lead off the inning, then walked the visitors’ Tyler Steele.

A Yates Sikes RBI single to score Peavy sent Hart to the showers and brought Landon Watts to the mound with runners on first and second. That proved only temporary, however, as a passed ball and wild pitch advanced the runners and brought Steele home. Then a Blake Gaffney infield single scored Sikes before Watts settled in and secured the final two outs of the inning — but not before the HiToms had knotted the score at 4-4.

The Bigfoots responded with back-to-back, 2-out doubles in the bottom of the 7th inning to bring across the winning run. First, Davin Whitaker smashed a double to the centerfield fence, then Tyler Renn ripped a 2-bagger to left, driving in Whitaker.

Defense and pitching were the difference makers for the Bigfoots in the later innings. Watts dug in on the mound in the 8th, striking out the first HiToms batter and getting the second to ground out to second base. A single and a stolen base were all that separated that strong opening with the finishing strikeout to end the scoring threat.

The Sequence

Flame-throwing Bigfoots reliever Jacob Haley was credited with the save, coming on in the 9th inning to face just four batters in retiring the side and securing the home team’s win.

With the win, the Bigfoots improve to 10-10, which puts them in a tie with Martinsville for fourth place in the Coastal Plain League’s West Division.

KEY PERFORMERS

Boone Bigfoots

• • Ray Ebson (SP): 4 innings pitched, 1 run on 4 hits, walked 2, striking out 2
  • Michael Young (1B): 1-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR
  • Davin Whitaker (CF): 2-4, 1 run scored, 2B
  • Tyler Renn (C): 1-3, 1 RBI, 2B
  • Brady Sullivan (RF): 1-3, 1 run scored, 2 stolen bases
  • Payton Basler (3B): 0-1, hit by pitch, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases

High Point-Thomasville HiToms

• • Yates Sikes (CF): 2-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
  • Blake Gaffney (C): 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI

PLAYERS MENTIONED

• Ray Euson – Haines City, Fla., Francis Marion University
• Michael Young – Montgomery, Ala., University of South Alabama
• Davin Whitaker – Mocksville, N.C., East Carolina University
• Tyler Renn – Marys Home, Mo., Columbia College
• Brady Sullivan – Cypress, Texas, Blinn Community College
• Payton Basler – Lansing, Kan., University of Missouri
• Jacob Haley – Huntsville, Ala., University of South Alabama
• Andrew Hart – Wexford, Pa., Cleveland Community College
• Landon Watts – Picayune, Miss., Pearl River Community College
• Yates Sikes – High Point, N.C., Western Carolina University
• Blake Gaffney – Kannapolis, N.C., Wake Tech Community College
• Landon Peavy – Lancaster, S.C., North Greenville University
• Tyler Steele – Charlotte, N.C., UNC-Greensboro