MONTROSE - Chris McGee has answered the call time and time again pitching in big games for Coach Winn and the Meteors and Tuesday evening was more of the same, as the senior delivered a two hit masterpiece from the bump to lead Montrose past Lakeland 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

McGee made it look easy, cruising through the first five innings, before pitching himself into and out of a jam in the a pressure packed sixth inning.

The senior tossed a complete game on 103 pitches, striking out a career high 13 batters along the way. He allowed just two hits and a pair of sixth inning walks to earn the win.

"Getting a win in the playoffs is a feat no matter what. Every moment, whether it's on the mound or at the plate, is exemplified in the playoffs and that's what is awesome about playing in the playoffs," McGee said after the win.

Coach Winn had this to say about the performance from his ace, "Chris was sensational today. He has been our leader on the mound all season, today was no different. He battled all day and stayed in favorable counts. I thought he did a wonderful job controlling the tempo."

After McGee kept the Chiefs off the board in the first, Adam Sorensen led the bottom half of the inning off with a double.

Kasey Carey snuck a single through the right side on the first pitch he saw, bringing Sorensen racing around third to score, giving the Meteors the 1-0 advantage.

McGee gave up a two out double in the top of the second, but eventually finished striking out the side to strand the runner in scoring position.

McGee dominated the third, fourth and fifth innings pitching three consecutive perfect innings, including fanning the side in the fifth.

The Meteors manufactured another run in the bottom of the third, Sorensen drew a one out walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Hudson Aukema, making it 2-0.

Lakeland made some noise in the top of the sixth, their nine hitter led it off with a seeing eye single.

McGee struck out the leadoff man, then issued his only two walks of the game to the two and three hitters, loading the bases.

Facing his first high stress pitches of the game, McGee settled down and got the backwards K against the Lakeland cleanup hitter, before inducing an inning ending groundout.

After the game McGee offered this about the moment, "my mindset was to get outs, no matter what. I like the pressure and I knew the four and five hitters couldn't hit me. I was having some issues, but it didn't matter, the pressure was on them, not me." 

McGee struck out the first two batters to start the seventh, then got a grounder to Aukema, who stepped on first to end it as the two seniors embraced for a celebratory hug.

After the exciting 2-0 playoff victory Coach Winn offered this take, "Lakeland is an incredible program and we feel blessed anytime we can get a playoff win, let alone win against a program with great culture."

"I'm proud of this group and the way they battle. The kids deserve all the credit, many of them are young and have had to step into unfamiliar roles. These kids have not made excuses all season and they have grown, I am thrilled for them."

Sorensen stroked a double and scored both Montrose runs, Carey had a pair of singles to go with his RBI.

Chase Harman, Alex Stoddard and Lincoln Brander also had hits for the Meteors, while Aukema drove in a run with a sac fly.

With the win Montrose will advance to play Dunmore in the AAA semifinals at Schautz Stadium in Dunmore at 3:30 on Thursday.