By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

GALESBURG, IL – Galesburg senior right-handed pitcher Peyton Isaacson can do it all, pitch, catch, play first base, provide left-handed power at the plate, and even led the Silver Streaks at quarterback this fall. On Saturday in the first game of a double header sweep over United Township, Isaacson’s complete- game shutout made him Galesburg’s new all-time leader in victories, 24-2 on the mound in his four-year varsity career. It’s yet another Galesburg record for Isaacson, who also holds the school’s all-time passing yardage record.

Game 1: Galesburg 13, United Township 0

With Isaacson in complete control on the mound, Galesburg welcomed United righthander Devin Wessels with a four-run first inning. The first six batters of the game reached base, including senior Nick Foster, who delivered a two-run RBI single to left, which scored three runs on the ensuing error in left as the ball rolled to the wall. Wessels put a stop to the rally striking out the final three Silver Streaks of the inning with a fastball up to 88 mph.

Galesburg added two runs in the second, and one in the third before providing the knockout blow with a six-run fifth inning. Junior first baseman Cody Hawthorne delivered a big two-run double to right centerfield, and senior Dylan Klinck delivered the final blow on an RBI single right. Klinck finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Leadoff man Josh Fliss also went 4-for-4, adding three RBI and two runs scored.

Isaacson’s record-breaking performance resulted in a five-inning, three-hitter, with 12 strikeouts and three walks. His fastball/slider combination was lethal for the Panthers’ hitters, as the righty showed the ability to throw his slider in any count for strikes.

Game 2: Galesburg 5, United Township 4

In game two, Galesburg squeaked out a back-and-forth battle 5-4 behind senior shortstop Josh Fliss and senior right-handed pitcher Dylan Klinck, who earned the win with 5.1 innings of four-run baseball (all four runs were unearned thanks to three Galesburg errors).  Fliss capped his amazing day going 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk, run scored, and RBI. Fliss finished the doubleheader a perfect 7-for-7 on the day, continuing his torrid hitting on the season. He entered the doubleheader hitting an astounding .580, and after his perfect day is now hitting .604 on the year.

United scored first on an RBI double to deep left field thanks to Wessels, scoring senior centerfielder Dakota Johnson. Galesburg answered in the bottom half of the first on an RBI single by centerfielder Cal Morling, scoring Fliss who singled earlier in the inning.

Galesburg added two runs in the second to take a 3-1 lead, highlighted by a RBI triple to right center by Cody Hawthorne. Fliss drove in Hawthorne on a two-strike line drive single to right.

United fought back with a three-run fourth inning. Senior shortstop Banks Murphy singled to start the rally, followed up by a double down the third base line by senior Brandt Schultz. Senior first baseman Logan McDanel hit into a fielder’s choice grounder to third, as Galesburg third baseman Nick Foster cut down Murphy at the plate to save a run. With the infield still back, Schultz scored on an error at shortstop on Jordan Traynham’s ground ball. Junior right fielder Alec Austin singled past third to score McDanel, and Tryham scored on a bases loaded walk to Wessels, his second RBI on the day giving United a 4-3 lead.

United Township defensive miscues allowed Galesburg to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Junior second baseman Mark Mangieri singled to third, advancing to second on the errant infield throw. He advanced to third on a passed ball, and later scored on a wild pitch by United’s Louis Hill. Hill impressed in his five innings on the mound, allowing five runs (three earned), with nine strikeouts in a losing effort.

Galesburg scored the eventual game winner in the bottom of the fifth on Nick Foster’s RBI bloop single over second base. Foster joined Fliss in finishing with three hits in game two for the Silver Streaks. Cal Morling scored the decisive run in the fifth, and also impressed striking out four in 1.2 innings of scorless relief of winning pitcher Dylan Klinck.

Aaron Halligan and Alec Austin both had two hits in game two for United.

Galesburg improves to 15-3 (6-0 in the Western Big 6) with the doubleheader sweep, while United Township drops to 10-11 (3-5 in the WB6).

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