Reed perfect as Tigers advance

LENOX — Carter Reed pitched a five-inning perfect game as Lenox defeated Sidney, 10-0, in a Class 1A District 15 opener Saturday.

The Tigers (19-7) will face Council Bluffs St. Albert Catholic (12-21) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the district semifinals at home. St. Albert beat beat Fremont-Mills 8-0 in Saturday’s second game.

Reed struck out 10 of the 15 batters he faced Saturday, constantly staying ahead in the count in preserving his availability for Tuesday’s game. he threw 40 pitches for strikes and just 16 balls. The Tiger defense was errorless in its five chances.

“I just knew if I threw strikes, they’re going to swing,” Reed said. “Our defense is good enough to make the plays. Coach was going to keep me under the 65-pitch limit for two days rest so I could be available to pitch if needed on Tuesday. If I went over 65 pitches I would have to have three days rest.”

Coach Trevor Luther said his team executed the game plan perfectly, both in Reed’s efficiency on the mound and a productive offense with eight hits and four walks in five innings, including triples by Reed and leadoff batter Dawson Evans. Reed and Gabe Funk each had two hits and Reed drove in two runs.

“That was exactly the type of baseball we like to play,” Luther said. “We preach efficiency, and Carter brings that three or four years of varsity experience to the mound. He pounds the zone and that’s what we needed today. We put the ball in play offensively and gave ourselves a chance up and down the lineup. We have some state track guys out there so they have confidence on the bases. We like to be aggressive. That’s winning baseball.”

Lenox scored two runs in the first inning and broke it open with seven runs in the third. Meanwhile, Reed fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced.

Sidney ended its season at 5-13.

St. Albert, 12-21 overall, finished eighth in the Hawkeye Ten Conference this season at 7-12. Owen Marshall pitched five innings of the shutout Saturday with eight strikeouts as the Falcons picked up their fifth win in their last six games. Jaxson Lehnen had two hits for the Falcons and Matt Stile doubled.