By David Shaw

david.shaw@salisburypost.com

GRANITE QUARRY — Joseph Peeler gave East Rowan more than just a brilliant pitching performance on Monday.

He gave the Mustangs hope.

East once again has a pulse in the South Piedmont Conference race after making a U-turn behind Peeler and a flawless defense, routing visiting Concord, 8-0.

“Our backs were against the wall,” coach Brian Hightower said after East (11-8, 6-5)  threw a wrench in the congested league standings. “After losing two close games last week and not playing our best, we really needed a game like this.”

Thank Peeler. The senior right-hander was the architect of a well-crafted two-hitter. Blending an upper-crust fastball with a tight curve and knee-buckling change-up, he struck out 10, walked one and faced only 23 batters in a complete-game dazzler — his second shutout this month.

“He was throwing heat along with the good breaking ball,” said Concord coach Jamie Russ. “Anytime you have guys check-swinging at fastballs, you’re doing something right. When a guy’s hot like that, you might get one good pitch to hit and you’ve got to take advantage.”

Instead, Concord (9-8, 7-4) struggled against Peeler’s medley of offerings. He worked all four corners of the plate, tinkering with different speeds and eye levels. “He had a ton of variety,” said East catcher John Owen.

Peeler also fielded his position with agility. He gunned down runners at first base following comeback grounders in the first, fifth and sixth innings and snagged a line drive aimed at his forehead in the sixth. “I actually jumped too early,” he noted. “I thought it was hit harder than it was.”

Hightower was quick to praise East shortstop Ike Freeman and second baseman Tanner File for their adept infield play. Freeman made four clean plays while File was part of a stikeout/throwout double play that defused a third-inning rally.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody,” said Freeman. “That’s how you’re supposed to play defense. I know we haven’t been showing our stuff lately. That’s not us, but we were solid tonight.”

East scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning after Concord lefty Tyler Thomas retired the Mustangs’ first two hitters. Samuel Wyrick jump-started the rally with a line-drive single to right-center field and Jackson Justus followed with a rope into right field. After Seth Wyrick walked to load the bases, Peeler punched a two-run single into shallow right.

“(Thomas’) fastball tailed a lot to the outside,” Peeler said after retiring Concord’s last 11 batters. “I just threw my hands out and tried to let the bat do the work. Getting run support like that is the best thing for a pitcher.”

East cracked the game open with a six-run fifth inning. Freeman opened it with a sharp double down the left-field line, putting a potential insurance run in scoring position. Two batters later, with runners on the corners, Samuel Wyrick’s grounder was gloved by Concord third baseman Drew Yoos, who immediately threw home to catcher Matt Panner.

“(Yoos) was playing to left of the (infield) cutout, far away from me,” Freeman said. “But as soon as it was hit, I knew I was caught.”

Freeman tried to get in a rundown but scored easily — along with Owen, who had reached on an error — when Panner’s throw to third sailed into the outfield and was subsequently misplayed by the left-fielder. “We can’t compound mistakes like that,” Russ said.

Before the inning was over, East’s Jordan Wise and Justus delivered run-scoring hits, another run crossed on one of three Concord errors during the frame and another scored on a wild pitch.

It all added up to a much-needed victory.

“I think tonight we were just ready to play,” Peeler concluded.

 

Concord 000 000 0 — 0  2  5

East Rowan 200 060 x — 8  7  0

WP — Peeler (3-2)

LP — Thomas (3-3)