Dominant pitching by Rushing leads Brighton past Munford

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Individual pitching performances were clearly the story in Brighton-Munford district games Monday and Tuesday.

A day after Munford’s Garrett McKinney no-hit the Cardinals, Brighton lefty Logan Rushing hurled a dominant one-hitter Tuesday in Brighton to lead the Cardinals to a 4-0 win.

Rushing struck out 10, including seven of eight to start the game, and allowed just two baserunners in the game.

“Our guys grinded in the cage yesterday, trusted the process, and we did exactly what we expect to do,” Brighton coach Ryan Wood said. “We expect a lot out of our players in understanding and executing our game plan. They did an excellent job … It also helps when a pitcher, Rushing, takes the game over and dominates the zone. Ten Ks, no walks and one shallow fly ball that finds a way down. Otherwise, we’re reading about no-hitters back-to-back days.”

Trey Elliot’s two-out single in the top of the third was the only thing that prevented a Rushing no-hitter. Munford’s Chris Swords reached on an error to lead off the top of the seventh before Rushing retired the next three to end the game.

All four of Brighton’s runs came in the third inning. Colton Bryant and Luke Olivette led off the frame with singles the came around to score on a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly by Rushing. Luke Perkins singled in a third run later in the inning and the fourth run scored on an error.

Bryant and Kaleb Baskin each had two hits for the Cardinals (10-9 overall, 4-2 District 13-AAA) and Rushing added a double.

Dalton Reed pitched five innings for Munford (11-8, 3-1), allowing eight hits and three earned runs.

“Our guys came out and played the way they are capable,” Wood said. “The way we expect them to play and also the level they expect out of themselves. We executed situations last night that we missed Monday night. As a team we talked about how you get no-hit on Monday and still have a chance to win in that last inning. We hit the ball hard a couple times Monday and they made good plays. So what, Tuesday is a new day and we can even the series … We know we play in the toughest 3A district this part of the state. We know we have to bring it every pitch, every inning or you’re not going to be successful. We played that way last night. Still have work to be done, still concentrating on our process and still have a lot to work on before the postseason, but that’s our guys’ focus and we understand what we have to do to meet our season end goals.”