Trevor Phipps
The Panthers first hit the diamond earlier this month and won their first game.
But then, they were quarantined so their season got put on a short pause.
The team started their season with a stellar 6-3 win against Widefield Gladiators on the road. After their forced break, they then hit the field in an away game against Mesa Ridge Grizzlies where they lost 3-2.
However, even though they did not pick up the “W” during their second game, they gave up one heck of a fight. Panther star pitcher senior Cameron Chase, (who is signed on to play college ball at Doane next year) started the game and broke a team record of getting 19 strikeouts in a single match.
But, after pitching seven innings at a 2-2 score, Chase had had enough and was getting close to the CHSAA 110 maximum pitch limit rule, when he hit the bench. He was pulled out of the match after a strikeout in the seventh inning. During the game, threw 71 strikes out of 99 pitches.
The Panthers still held on to the 2-2 tie until the game was forced into extra innings. But then in the bottom of the 11th, relief pitcher senior Matt Lecky gave up the winning run after he picked up two outs.
The Panthers then hit the road again and traveled to Widefield to dominate 6-3. After starting all three games, Chase and his 83 miles-per-hour fastball have earned him two wins and a 0.98 ERA.
As far as hitting goes there hasn’t been a single Panther yet that has knocked a homerun out of the park. Senior Parker Taranto leads the team so far with three hits, one run and a .333 batting average.
The lead scorers though, are Chase and Lecky with four runs apiece. And senior Will Passink has the best batting average with a .400 during his eight plate appearances.
This Tuesday, the Panther baseball team has another match against the 0-3 Widefield Gladiators, but this time on their home turf at Woodland Park’s Meadow Wood Sports Complex. On Thursday, they have another home match against the 2-2 Coronado Cougars.
