NAVARRE — Corey Armstrong went the distance on the mound and B.A. Larkins scored two runs to lead Crestview High School to a 3-1 District 1-7A baseball win over Navarre on Friday.
On a night far different from the two times the teams met last season nobody was complaining. There was no rain Friday compared to the flood at Navarre a year ago. And although Mark Cronin started on the mound for the Raiders there would be no 18-inning marathon as there was in April when he started against Bulldogs.
Cronin and Armstrong did lock horns in another great battle of two of the area’s better pitchers.
Crestview-Navarre baseball photos>>>
Armstrong threw a five-hitter and struck out nine without allowing a walk. He baffled the Navarre batters most of the night with a breaking ball that had plenty of bite. Only once in the game did he get to a three-ball count on a Raider batter.
“I was able to get on top of my breaking ball tonight and it had good break,” Armstrong said. “It was a big win
Cronin worked six innings and struck out 15 Bulldogs. Cronin’s albatross was the walk as he offered five free passes.
Larkins was the recipient of two of the walks both of which led to runs.
Larkins led off the Bulldog second by working Cronin for a walk after falling behind in the count no balls, two strikes. Dayne Justice moved Larkins to second with a swinging bunt.
Alik Whitehead delivered a single up the middle to score Larkins.
A second walk to Larkins, in the fourth inning, came back to hurt the Raiders (5-2, 0-1) as well.
Larkins went from first two third as Justice hit a high hopper off home plate and was safe on a single. Larkins scored what turned out to be the winning run when Dustin Kervin grounded out to first.
The Raiders scored their only run in the bottom of the fourth. Cyrus Grimes led off the inning with a double and later scored as Cade Taylor grounded out to second.
Crestview (4-3, 1-0) picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Zach Degraaf drew a leadoff walk from Raider relief pitcher Tyler Rebber.
Degraaf stole second, took third on a Raider error and scored as Hancock grounded into a fielder’s choice.
“We talk a lot about being gutsy and hanging in there,” Gillis said. “We knew with the pitcher they had going tonight we were going to have scrap and claw for everything we got, and we did. Corey was just a warrior on the mound tonight.
He enjoys pressure. He came through in some tough situations and make big pitches to get out of it (a jam). But again, I’m just proud of the whole group.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview baseball downs Navarre in District opener (PHOTOS, VIDEO)