By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Former George County High standout Justin Steele won 16 games last season for the Chicago Cubs en route to earning his first appearance in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
And even though the southpaw has gotten off to a slower start this season, he made sure his first win of the current campaign was one to remember as well on Friday.
Steele hurled a two-hitter and recorded his first career complete game, as the home-standing Cubs beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 at Wrigley Field.
Steele moved to 1-3 on the season with the dominating performance, and picked up his first victory in 13 starts this season. He tossed 95 pitches, striking out seven and walking two, while lowering his earneds run average from 3.20 to 2.95.
“That was special,” Steele told reporters, after the game. “Wrigley’s a special place. Fans are aware at all times of what’s going on. They knew it was a special moment for me, to myself. The field, the crowd, and energy — everything behind me — it’s truly special. The Wrigley faithful, it’s really hard to put into words how special they are.”

Chicago won its second straight after losing eight of 10. The sellout crowd of almost 40,000 were on their feet and cheering for Steele when he returned to the mound for the ninth inning with the comfortable four run lead to finish off his masterpiece. He induced Brandon Drury into a ground out for the final out and to secure the big win and then Steele then hugged catcher Tomás Nido in celebration.
The decision marked the fifth straight loss for the Angels since a season-high six-game win streak.
Steele missed six weeks earlier this year after straining his left hamstring in the opener at Texas but has been on a roll of late, with a 1.67 ERA in his past eight starts.
It was Steele’s first win since Sept., 4th of last season.

Seiya Suzuki gave Steele all the support he would need in the first frame, when he smacked a two run home run for Chicago for his 12th home run and fourth in nine games. Ian Happ added RBI singles in the third and fifth for the Cubs also, and Nido doubled and scored in the sixth.
“It means everything. I’ve worked my entire life for moments like this,” Steele added. He also called Friday’s outing “the best baseball moment of my life.”.