CHAFFEE'S GLUECK SILENCES KELLY 3-1

CHAFFEE, Mo. or a guy who had been bothered by elbow problems, G.P. Glueck pitched a pretty decent game.

Actually, Glueck was a lot better than decent. The Chaffee High senior fired a two-hitter, with 13 strikeouts and no walks, to lead the Red Devils past Kelly 3-1 Friday afternoon.

Chaffee evened its record at 1-1 with the victory at its Harmon Field, although Kelly (0-2) was the official home team because the game was originally scheduled to be played in Benton but was moved because the Hawks' field was too wet.

"The elbow felt pretty good," said a smiling Glueck.

Up until a few days ago, however, that wasn't the case. Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said Glueck was not allowed to throw for a couple of weeks because of the elbow trouble.

"We had to shut him down for two weeks, but he felt better Tuesday," Horrell said. "We owe a lot to our trainer, Matt Holder (of Mid-America Rehab). He did a heck of a job getting G.P. ready.

"This was his target date (to pitch a game) and he passed it with flying colors. Hopefully he'll stay healthy."

Glueck, a right-hander, had Kelly's batters flailing at his sharp breaking ball all game long. That pitch often broke well outside the strike zone, but the Hawks simply could not lay off.

"The breaking ball felt good. It's probably my best pitch," said Glueck, who was particularly pleased by his ability to avoid any walks. "I think I've only done that twice in my life.

"This was one of the better games I've pitched. I've had some better in summer ball, but in high school, this was probably my best."

Glueck needed to be as sharp as he was because Kelly hurler Justin Simpher wasn't far behind.

Simpher, who like Glueck went the seven-inning distance, gave up seven hits -- all of them singles and several of the scratch variety -- while fanning 11 and walking two. Only one of the runs the senior right-hander allowed was earned.

"Both pitchers threw well," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "I take my hat off to Glueck. And Justin threw really well. He's normally not been this strong this early."

Chaffee went ahead in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Jeremy Lynn singled, stole second, continued to third on a throwing error and came home on a single by Matt Stroup.

The Red Devils made it 2-0 in the fourth, getting pop-fly singles by Stroup and Travis Hanback and then an error on a sacrifice bunt by Glueck that allowed Stroup to score.

Kelly -- whose first hit had been a single by Jon Heuring in the fourth inning -- got its only real offensive spark in the fifth when Brooks Heuring drilled a leadoff home run to the opposite field in right.

But no Hawk reached base again as Glueck retired the final nine batters. He got a bit of insurance in the seventh with another unearned run, Lynn scoring for the second time, on an error, after he had singled and moved up on a single by Perry Rice.

Glueck allowed just three base runners all day, one Hawk reaching on a wild pitch after striking out. That came in the second inning and Glueck went on to fan the unusual total of four batters in that frame.

"G.P. pitched great and so did Simpher," said Horrell. "It was just a very good game."

Lynn, Stroup and Hanback all had two of Chaffee's seven hits.