It’s not over yet.
The Reeltown baseball team advances to the third round of the AHSAA Class 2A playoffs after sweeping G.W. Long on Thursday.
In Game 1, it was the JaMarkius Smith show. He saw action on the mound through the first five frames, where he did not allow a hit or run while sending eight batters back to their dugout. He then turned around to send one over the fence, leading to a 2-0 victory.
It was a quiet day for both sides through the first couple of frames, but that was until Reed Wood stepped to the plate in the bottom of the third inning. He logged the Rebels' second hit of the day — sending it deep to centerfield beyond the fence to put the first run on the board. It was just one batter later that Smith would send his home run the distance, which proved to be just enough for the Rebels to walk away with Game 1.
The second game was much of the same with some additional fireworks in between. Ultimately Reeltown came away with the series 4-1 in Game 2.
The Rebels put up seven hits on the board; Smith accounting for two of them to pair with his two runs and one RBI. Reed Wood, Brody Smith, Slade Carleton, Branton Spraggins and Preston Lynn all chipped in with one hit.
Hagan Lewis saw action on the mound, surrendering five hits and one run but struck out two batters through seven innings.
Next up for Reeltown is the series against Cottonwood, a team that currently sits with a 21-6 record and a perfect 5-0 record in Class 2A Area 2. Cottonwood is coming off back-to-back sweeps over Zion Chapel and Ranburne thus far into the playoffs.
Reeltown has shown its ability to jump out to a fast start, like its series against Isabella. And, it's the ability to play strong defense while letting the pitchers rack up strikeouts, like in its series against G.W. Long. Reeltown will need a healthy blend of both playing styles if it hopes to come away with a win over a strong Cottonwood team.