COLLEYVILLE – Plano East got only one hit, and Flower Mound Marcus needs only one more win after Friday's very complete performance by pitcher Michael Gill.
RICKY MOON / Special to DMN
Alex Harris of Plano East dives safely back to first base as Jameson Holt tries to apply the tag.
Gill pitched a complete-game shutout and hit a home run as Marcus beat Plano East, 5-0, in Game 1 of the best-of-3 Class 5A Region I quarterfinals at Colleyville Heritage.
"He had control of his pitches," Marcus coach Art Senato said. "A few times, especially in district play, he would start slow. We've been really on him to start strong and maintain that."
Gill maintained it, and after Marcus (23-11) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, the Marauders broke the game open with three runs in the fifth.
Jake Allen started the inning with a walk, Layne Nelson followed with a bunt single, and after Gill moved the runners to second and third with a fly out to center, Tait Baker drove in Allen with a sacrifice fly. Cody Kuecker drove in two more runs with a grounder that zipped past pitcher Sam Arrieta and over second base.
That provided some cushion for Gill, but he didn't seem to need it. The sophomore right-hander, who begins his delivery by spinning so he faces completely away from the hitter, struck out five and allowed only one base runner in the final four innings.
Today's Game 2 will be at noon at Colleyville Heritage. Plano East (15-13-1) must win to force a Game 3 immediately after.
