Flying Squadron uses long ball to down Eagles

HIGHLAND HOME – Goshen’s baseball team went into Friday’s area matchup with Highland Home with the hopes of winning an area title.

The Flying Squadron quickly squashed those plans with a 11-1 defeat of Goshen in five innings.

“We’ve got to hit the ball better than we did,” head coach Robby Kinsaul said. “We’ll have to just forget about this one.”

The Eagles struck out 10 times and reached base just three times.

Highland Home uses four homeruns, two each from Chris McCulough and Brandon Powell.

McCulough slugged a two-run dinger in the first to give the Flying Squadron the lead. Powell followed with a solo shot.

In the second inning, McCulough and Powell again went back-to-back with McCulough’s, a grand slam, doing extensive damage. Highland Home led at that point 8-1.

The game began very similar to the way Tuesday’s game between the two playoff bound teams ended.

Goshen (11-8) defeated the Flying Squadron when the Eagles scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh on balks to pull out a 2-1 victory.

On Friday, Austin Rushing single with one out in the first inning and quickly stole second. Rushing would advance to third then score on consecutive balk calls on McCulough, Highland Home’s starting pitcher.

McCulough, however, would have the last word as he allowed just one base runner after the first inning. Charlton Bean reached base after being hit by a pitch in the third.

Goshen will advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive season. It appears the Eagles, as they did last season, will travel to face Leroy High School in the first round. Goshen was swept by the Bears in 2011.

“It’s going to be tough but stranger things have happened,” Kinsaul said. “They lost a lot of players but they always have good players and a good team.”

The Eagles will return to action on April 12 as they travel to Bullock County. Goshen will wrap up its regular season the following day against New Brockton.