Mustangs Have 'Bulldog' in Rotation

Most successful athletes don’t dwell on negative plays or poor performances.  Whether it be a missed layup or a dropped pass, moving on to the next game or play is crucial to athletic success.

Evergreen Park’s Jessie McClain showed the importance of a short memory for a starting pitcher. After struggling in his previous start, McClain took the mound against Tinley Park and earned a complete-game victory in the Mustangs’ final regular game, winning 4-3 on Thursday.

“I had a rough game my last start out,” McClain said.  “I had to come out and prove myself again.”

With the Titans scoring three runs--one unearned--in the first three innings, McClain did not want to see a repeat of his last outing.

“Usually, the farther I go in the game, the better my stuff gets, the better I get," he said. "Once I get warmed up, I start to settle in and control the ball."

He was right. McLain allowed one hit over the final three innings to shut down any aspirations the Titans had for a comeback.

“I’m real proud of him," Evergreen Park coach Mark Smyth said. "He’s been a bulldog for us all year. He’s been our biggest competitor out there on the mound.  He just keeps working, doing his job. It was a fantastic effort.” 

Left fielder Bobby McAvoy provided the run support to McClain’s pitching.   McAvoy went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.  He was proud of the team’s effort, especially his pitcher.

“McClain battled for us,” McAvoy said. “He just kept throwing strikes. He threw a gem.”

The Mustangs look to keep the momentum going when they open postseason play on Wednesday against Illiana Christian.

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