Mitchell Nearly Pitch Perfect In Win Over East Lake

The Mitchell Mustangs continued the perfect start to their season by traveling to East Lake on Thursday night and defeating the Eagles 1-0 to improve to 3-0 on the year. With just a single run scored, this one was a pitcher’s paradise. Both starters, Tyler Edling for Mitchell, and Andrew Belcik for East Lake, were on their game from the get-go.

Belcik worked all seven innings for East Lake, striking out five and giving up just three hits and two walks. After getting rocked for a double into deep left-center by Jakob Mattos in the third at-bat of the game, Belcik settled in and did not allow a hit for the next two innings. When he faced Mattos again to lead off the fourth, he did so with caution, walking him on six pitches. It would be Belcik’s one and only mistake of the night. Mattos proceeded to swipe second base and then score on an RBI single by Kamren Powers.

On the other side of the diamond, Edling was nearly as impressive. After a first-pitch out to start his evening, he had to work a bit harder for the next two, enduring a seven and a nine pitch at-bat to record the next two outs. He scattered five hits throughout the rest of his six and two-thirds innings, striking out just two but his defense picked him up and helped him to keep the Eagles off of the scoreboard for the duration.

Edling did however find himself in as sticky situation in the bottom of the seventh as the Eagles tried to muster a frantic rally. Jakob Sessa ripped a ground ball back up the box for a lead-off single. Two fly-outs later, Seth Caballes repeated the task for the Eagles, moving Sessa, who represented the tying run, into scoring position.

From there, Ryan Slaughter stepped in to relieve Edling and induced a 6-3 ground out to preserve the victory and earn his first save of the season.

After shutting out their its two opponents, East Lake has now had the table turned and has been held scoreless in two consecutive losses. With a 2-2 record, the Eagles will look to rebound against Clearwater Central Catholic on Friday night.

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