Cleburne continues district shutout streak with win over Burleson

By Jarret Johnson

jmjohnson@star-telegram.com

BURLESON — Cleburne dispatched Burleson 11-0 in five innings Tuesday to move to 3-0 in District 8-4A.

The Yellow Jackets (16-3), Class 4A state finalists a season ago, have not allowed a run in district play while racking up 36 runs themselves.

“I thought we probably played about as good as we can play tonight,” Cleburne coach Ross Taylor said. “Pitching was good. I thought from top to bottom we swung the bat and really a couple of guys in our lineup who have been hot weren’t tonight but other people stepped up and picked them up and that was nice to see.”

Indeed, every player wearing a Cleburne uniform made a positive impact against the Elks (9-10, 2-1) on a cold, windy, cloud-covered night starting with pitcher Tyler Fowler.

The sophomore struck out six, walked two and gave up just a pair of singles in five innings to move his record to 4-1 on the season. Fowler also finished 2 for 4 at the plate with an RBI triple.

“He’s been outstanding. He should probably be 5-0 but he gave up one earned run in five games and got beat,” Taylor said. “He’s just gotten stronger each game. I thought tonight his fastball had good pop and was jumping out of his hand.”

Cleburne first baseman Quade Coward finished 2 of 3 with two RBIs and scored a run. Stevan Martinez added a pair of singles, scored two runs and stole a pair of bases.

Casey Kirkland reached safely both times up to bat, once on a single to right field and later on one of Burleson’s four errors, and scored a pair of runs.

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