Getting things going for the jump is the motto of the Reeltown baseball team in this year’s playoffs.
The Rebels, who captured their fifth consecutive area title, matched up with the runner-up of Class 2A Area 7 in the Isabella Mustangs. From the start of the series, it seemed as though the Rebels were going to make quick work of the Mustangs with an 11-1 victory in the first game.
Reeltown jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning with Hagan Lewis, JaMarkius Smith, Brody Smith, Slade Carleton and Xander Johnston all logging a run in the first frame. The rest of the night continued at that place, ending the first game in the fifth inning via run rule.
“What we preached all week, set the tone, and we were able to get some timely hits and make them go to the bullpen fairly quick and use some guys,” Reeltown head coach Matt Johnson said. “Defensively, we didn't have one error. So we went errorless in the first game and I can't remember the hit total, but we hit the ball really well.”
However, the second game was almost the complete opposite of the first. The quick start Johnson had seen from his team essentially went away and resulted in a 6-5 loss, to put the series at an even 1-1.
In this go-round, the Rebels were plagued by field errors; cataloging four total with the walk-off single being set up by one of those errors.
“(Isabella) only had one earned run,” Johnson said. “They small-balled us to death late in the game. I don't know if it was the pressure or what got to us there in the second game, but we just didn't execute defensively. We hit the ball well enough to win, but we just didn't execute on the defensive side.”
Even so, that slump did not last long. Reeltown came back to take the series win 13-3 in the third game, where yet again the quick start proved to be beneficial. By the end of the second inning, it was eerily similar to the first with the score being 8-1 and ending the same way with a run-rule.
The Rebels finished the game with 13 total hits — JaMarkius Smith and Hutson Lewis finished with three each. But where Lewis really shined was on the mound, a position he’s limited time at this year.
Lewis came in for Brody Smith and simply just halted Isabella from any success. He only threw 20 pitches, 16 of which were strikes and ended with four strikeouts.
“At the beginning of the fourth we brought Hutson Lewis in, and he shut them down,” Johnson said. “I think he only threw 20 pitches in two innings and I don't think he gave up a hit. He came in and did a heck of a job, I was really proud of him. We hadn't used him much on the bump this year. He's been dealing with some arm aches and pains throughout the year, so to bring him in, for him to be on like that, just that was huge.”
Now all eyes are on the upcoming playoff matchup against G.W. Long, which will be at home for Reeltown. Johnson again will have his eyes on a quick start on the offensive side because he knows it’ll put the momentum on their side.
“The biggest momentum you gain is offensively or the easiest way to gain it,” Johnson said. “We don't want to give them any momentum in the top of that first inning and by making mistakes. Just making them earn it, we give up too many free bases. That's kind of what happened in the second game (against Isabella). You can't defend walks and hit by pitches and when a pitcher is struggling, defense has got to bow their neck and make a play.”