BY ROB DAVIS
FOR THE OBSERVER
BEAUREGARD — After dropping four consecutive games the Reeltown Rebels varsity baseball team earned a much needed 5-2 victory over the Beauregard Hornets Tuesday afternoon at Beauregard High School.
Branton Spraggins pitched six complete innings, and Reed Wood had three hits and drove in three runs for the Rebels who defeated the Hornets for the second time this season. Beauregard scattered hits throughout the game but time and time again left men on base. Reeltown head baseball coach Trey Chambers was pleased to see his team get back to winning after a tough couple of weeks.
“Beauregard is a tough place to play,” Chambers said. “Coach Nolen does a phenomenal job because he’s one of the best baseball coaches around. We just played our brand of baseball today and tried to focus on controlling the controllables.”
Wood got things going for the Rebels in the top of the first inning by leading off with a double to left center field. A single by JaMarkius Smith moved Wood to third. Reeltown loaded the bases but managed only one run in their half of the inning.
Spraggins made quick work of the Hornets in the bottom of the first by retiring the first three batters. The Rebels pitcher then led off the top of the second inning with a single. Rhyder Brasher beat out a throw to first base for an infield hit before Wood drove in two runs to give Reeltown a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.
“I’m just proud of the way Branton pitched today,” Chambers said. “He almost pitched a complete game, and he showed a lot of poise on the mound today.”
Beauregard brought the home crowd to their feet in the bottom of the third inning when Nic Lundy launched a monster home run over the towering left field wall. Lane Wilson singled in the same inning and later crossed home plate to cut into the Reeltown lead. However, the Rebels added an insurance run in the fourth inning before Spraggins and the Reeltown defense shut down the Hornets the rest of the way. Beauregard had three runners on base in the final inning but the Rebels managed to escape without allowing any runs.
“Our guys really flew out of the box today and did a good job of putting the ball in play,” Chambers said. “It’s been a tough go for us early in the season so hopefully we can build off of this. I was proud of the way our guys kept their composure and competed for seven innings. We still have some things to work on, but I think we’re moving in a positive direction.”
