The Coats-Erwin Middle School baseball team improved to 5-1 on the season with an 8–1 win over Highland at the Vikings’ home field Wednesday afternoon.

Hayden Pope was the winning pitcher, striking out 14 Viking batters in six and one-third innings while scattering four hits and walking two. Dillon Faircloth come on in relief in the bottom of the seventh and struck out the final two Highland batters to secure the win.

Hunter Thompson had two hits to lead the Falcons offensively. Adding hits were Jalen Evans, Nathan Barefoot, Pope, and Jacob Hartman. Faircloth and Barefoot played well defensively.

The Falcons begin their second round of conference play Monday at Shughart.

In softball, Coats-Erwin won 16-0 in four innings.

Ava Blackman threw a one-hit shutout for the Falcons, giving up no runs on three walks with nine strikeouts.

Zeah Ennis had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored and Kimah Warren had two hits, including a double, one RBI and two runs scored.

Marley Colville had two hits, one RBI and one run scored. Caylon Avery had one hit and three runs scored. Blackman had one hit. Tristan Ennis did not record an official at-bat, but had four runs scored after drawing a walk in all four trips to the plate. Gracie Byrd scored twice. Jaliyah McDougald and Madison Howlett scored one run apiece.

Sydney Jackson had the lone hit for the Vikings.