Mustangs put out by Reeltown

Published 3:32 pm Saturday, April 17, 2010

ISABELLA – What had been a hot Isabella offense was cooled by a Flurry.

Freshman pitcher Shelby Flurry on April 17 led Reeltown to a 12-2, five-inning win over its hosts in the decisive game of the best-of-three, first-round baseball playoff series.

Isabella scored a combined 30 runs in splitting the first two games of the series on April 16 but couldn’t solve Flurry, who Reeltown coach Michael Jones said had experienced control problems during the regular season but walked only two Mustangs on Saturday.

Sawyer Cahalane, Isabella: 1/2, RBI

Sean Haigler, Isabella: 1/1, 2B

Anthony McKeithen, Reeltown: 2/3, BB, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Kyle Taunton, Reeltown: 2/2, BB, RBI, 2 R

“He pitched a great game,” Jones said. “He got his curveball over for a strike. He’s got a big curve, so that let him open up with the fastball.”

Crucial for Flurry was getting first-pitch strikes against the Isabella hitters, who could manage only four hits on the day.

The Mustangs left two runners on base in the first inning and left the bases loaded in the second. The hosts finally scored in the third-when Aaron Ratliff was hit by a pitch and scored on a wild pitch-but Reeltown already had a six-run lead.

Allen Edwards scored Isabella’s other run as he singled with one out in the fifth inning and came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sawyer Cahalane.

Austin Haigler suffered the loss for Isabella. He lasted two innings and was relieved by Edwards.

Reeltown advances to play area foe Zion Chapel in the second round of the playoffs, on April 23-24. Isabella finishes with a 19-20 record in coach Clay Shearer’s first season.

“There were a lot of positives, a lot of good things that came out of this season,” Shearer said. “There were multiple games that we came from behind and won.

“We have some younger guys that are going to be extremely fiery, extremely competitive. I really feel like things are in place for a positive future.”