Four-run frame enables Mustangs to build some momentum ahead of regional play

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Carter Reeves did exactly what Mendon Unity baseball coach Tyler McAllister has wanted him to do with an outside pitch.

Simply punch it into right-center field.

With two outs in the top of the fifth inning Thursday, Reeves smacked the first pitch he saw from Camp Point Central reliever Garrett Neisen the opposite way, driving in Ben McClelland and Sawyer Allen to complete a four-run inning and lift Unity to a 6-2 rain-shortened victory.

The Mustangs (17-5) tacked on a run in the top of the sixth, but the game was called with two outs after threatening skies finally turned into steady rain.

Unity’s pivotal inning began with Avery Frese leading off with a single and Cody Shaffer doubling to right field with one out. McClelland drove in one run with a single up the middle, and after Sawyer Allen walked to load the bases, Skylor Goudschaal grounded out to get another run home.

Reeves followed with his clutch single.

Shaffer finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while the Mustangs had five other singles. Simon Rabe pitched the first three innings, allowing two runs and three hits with three strikeouts. Frese struck out two and walked two in two innings of relief.

Central (10-14) manufactured single runs in the first and third innings. Cole Peterson’s one-out double in the first led to courtesy runner Jase Wallace scoring on a groundout. In the third, Nate Peters singled with one out and scored on Mason Miller’s two-out double.

Miller threw the first 3 ⅓ innings, allowing one run with seven strikeouts and two walks.

A rematch could take place next week in the Class 1A Liberty Regional. Unity, which is the No. 2 seed in the sub-sectional, will face either Central or Liberty in next Wednesday’s regional semifinal. Winchester West Central will face either Payson Seymour or Southeastern in the other semifinal.