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Complete Forecast for  May 17 2008

By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

In the past two postseason meetings between Robert E. Lee and Rowlett, the Red Raiders have dropped Game 1 only to come back and sweep the next two and advance.

History will need to repeat itself if REL is to prolong its season.

The Red Raiders were limited to one run on four hits in an 8-1 loss Friday at Mike Carter Field.

Lee (19-9) trails 1-0 in its Class 5A Region II best-of-three area playoff series with a must-win Game 2 slated for 1 p.m. today in Rowlett.

If the Red Raiders win the second game, a third and deciding contest will start 30 minutes later.

Lee senior Burch Smith will start the Game 2. He is 1-0 against Rowlett in his career after defeating the Eagles last year in game 3 of the regional quarterfinals.

“We need to go up there and win the second game, and that’s what we told them,” said REL head coach Mike Pirtle.

“What we can’t do is get down (after this loss). We didn’t play a good ball game against a great team, so that made a difference.”

Rowlett’s Brandon Loy led the Eagles (30-1-2) at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a single, triple and two RBIs.

Lee’s offense was stymied by Rowlett starter Chase Castilla, who allowed one run on four hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.

Lee senior Blake Barnes — a week after fanning 10 in a victory over Bryan Adams — was effective with eight strikeouts, but allowed seven runs on eight hits.

Rowlett’s big inning occurred in the second. The Eagles used consecutive singles and an error to go in front 1-0, followed by a two-run double by Andrew Smith.

Jeremy Olson singled with one out in the second, but after going to second on a wild pitch, was left stranded.

That was the theme of the night as Lee stranded runners twice at second and once at third.

Joseph Cleaver smashed a two-out triple to third, but was left there.

Colin Moore finally came through for REL in the sixth, lacing a two-out single to score Edgar Butron, who had singled. The inning ended a pitch later when the base runner was picked off first.

———

Class 5A Region II Area

Rowlett 8, Robert E. Lee 1

Rowlett 040 012 1 — 8 9 0

Lee 000 001 0 — 1 4 1

Chase Castilla, Blake Hamblin (7) and Tyler Applequist; Blake Barnes, Bryan Boyd (6) and Colin Moore. 2B – ROW: Andrew Smith. 3B – ROW: Brandon Loy; LEE: Joseph Cleaver. SB – ROW: Loy 2 Steven Canon, Applequist; LEE: Tyler Reed. SAC – ROW: Reed Graham, Drew Mayhall, Loy.

RECORDS — Rowlett 30-1-2, Robert E. Lee 19-9.

NEXT UP

— Lee at Rowlett, 1 p.m. today at Eagle Field.

If a third game is needed it will begin 30 minutes after the completion of Game 2.