CRESTVIEW — Corey Armstrong had a game Thursday night that he’s not likely to forget any time soon as Crestview High School’s baseball team hosted Baker in the regular season finale.
Armstrong, the Bulldog junior shortstop, was 4-for-4 at the plate with a three-run homer, a grand slam homer and eight runs batted in to lead Crestview to a 10-4 win.
Baker-Crestview baseball photos>>>
It’s not exaggeration to say that Armstrong was in a zone as he only needed four swings to collect his four hits.
Armstrong said the two-homer game was his first since youth league.
“It feels great,” he said. “I’ve got my swing down.
“I’m seeing the ball really well. Earlier in the year I was out in front of everything, but I’m staying back a little more now.”
Baker Coach Adam Henry could only give credit where credit is due to Armstrong.
“We all know Corey hits the ball well. Where ever you put it, he’s going to swing it.”
Crestview trailed the Gators 4-2 when Armstrong came to bat in the fifth inning with Zach Degraaf and Dalton Bannach on base. Armstrong was up in the count three balls and one strike when he deposited Baker pitcher Gabe Nelson next offering over the left field fence.
The Bulldogs would lead the rest of the way.
Any hopes Baker had of a late rally disappeared when Armstrong came to bat with the bases loaded in the sixth. Armstrong jumped on an Austin Davis fastball and drove it deep out of the yard for the grand slam.
Bulldog Coach Tim Gillis said Blake Dean, who graduated in 2006 and went on to be an All-America at Louisiana State, was the last Crestview player to hit two homers in a game.
“And he (Dean) didn’t hit a three-run (homer) and a grand slam,” Gillis said.
The Gators (6-13) gave the Bulldogs all they wanted early in the game. Baker took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Bulldog starting pitcher Ryan Weekley struggled.
Weekley walked Baker’s Travis Adams to open the inning and then hit Jonathan Gatewood with a pitch. Hunter Cannon singled to score Adams and Gatewood.
Crestview (12-12) answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Austin Polk doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a Degraaf single. Degraaf stole second and scored on an Armstrong single.
Baker scored two unearned runs in the top of the fifth off Jeremy Willis. Cannon and Bubba Ellis scored for the Gators.
But the Gators, who managed just four hits on the night, were no match for Armstrong and the Bulldogs.
“I thought we did a good job,” Gillis said. “I thought Baker did a great job. They are a well-coached team and they’ve got a class guy running the show.
“It’s a joy to see a guy like that in the game of baseball. He does a good job. He’s a high character guy who does things the right way.”
Willis picked up the win for the Bulldogs. Colter Hancock got the save. Nelson took the loss for Baker.
Henry hopes the Gators will be able to build off their strong showing against the Bulldogs when they open play in the District 3-1A tournament Monday.
“When you play a 7A team as well did until the sixth inning it should mean something,” he said. “Hopefully we are going to roll after this.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Armstrong powers Crestview past Baker (PHOTOS, VIDEO)