Porters Chapel went into Friday’s game against visiting Rebul with two goals.

First was get a win. Second was find a candidate for the second spot in the pitching rotation.

Reed Gordon made a powerful case for the second goal, as the junior right-hander threw a two-hit shutout in five innings as PCA run-ruled Rebul 12-0

His first pitch slipped out of his grasp and rolled along the ground for a ball. But he quickly started pounding the strike zone with his solid fastball afterwards.

“I think that first pitch, I was really getting the jitters out,” Gordon said. “After that, it was just me throwing to Josh (Hill). I was really focused on the mound.”

The Eagle bats provided Gordon with plenty of run support.

PCA (16-7, 10-2) got on the board quickly in the first. Montana McDaniel doubled in Clayton Holmes with a one-out rip to left center.

Josh Perry plated a run with a double deep to center and a balk scored another as the Eagles jumped on top 3-0.

After Gordon struck the side out in the second, the Eagles had their biggest outburst of the night.

Gordon doubled to lead off the frame and Colby Rushing struck the big blow in the inning with a two-run double. McDaniel and Joe Borrello doubled home one apiece as the Eagles jumped up 9-0.

The Raiders finally got a runner in scoring position in the third as Gordon yielded a double down the third base line to Jake Taylor.

But Gordon bored down and induced a pair of ground balls to maintain the shutout.

Gordon finished with seven strikeouts and walked one.

The Eagles put the finishing touches on the flawless victory as Holmes singled in the final run in the PCA fourth.

With the Class A playoffs on the horizon, PCA coach Randy Wright feels much better about his pitching staff. Along with Matt Warren, who has thrown in the second spot this year, Borrello and Gordon give Wright plenty of options.

“Reed Gordon did a great job tonight, throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count,” Wright said. “Here in the last couple of weeks, we’ve had a couple of pitchers step up and throw well for us.”

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com