Panthers blossom in victorious outings in back-to-back match-ups
Panthers outlast Episcopal 4-2 in nine innings for impressive conference opener win on the road MAGNET COVE HOST OUT-OF-STATE OPPONENT FROM ILLINOIS TO IGNITE HISTORIC WIN AT THE COVE
MAGNET COVE — The Magnet Cove Panthers have created some noise on the diamond in their recent appearances in baseball action.
The Panthers took care of business in the conference opener and defeated the Episcopal Wildcats 4-2 in a ninth inning duel—then returned home Wednesday and topped the Aurora Christian Eagles of Illinois 7-6 in a non-conference showdown at the Cove.
The Panthers look to carry their momentum on the road next week to face the Cutter Morning Star Eagles in a conference battle in Hot Springs.
Panthers vs. Episcopal
For the second extra inning battle this season, the Panthers had to ignite their willpower of stout play against Episcopal in a league contest match-up hosted in Little Rock. The Panthers were held scoreless through the fifth inning as the Wildcats sparked a run scored in the bottom of the first and third innings—giving Magnet Cove a 2-0 deficit. But, the momentum shifted to the Panthers as they ignited the PPRD effect and routed their game tying runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings— scoring once in both innings that tied the contest at 2-0. The Panthers defense contained the Wildcats’ offense and they were scoreless in the second, fourth through seventh innings to force extra inning play.
In the eighth inning, the defense remained poised and intact for both teams which forced a ninth and deciding inning after the eighth inning was scoreless.
The Panthers sparked with two runs scored in the top of the ninth that gave Magnet Cove its two-run lead. In the bottom of the ninth, the Wildcats fell short to capitalize offensively as the Panthers’ defense took command to secure the stout road victory in The Rock.
The Panthers tallied four runs on three hits while the Wildcats managed to score two runs and won the batting battle with seven hits but committed six errors.
On the mound, Colton Sulton ignited the strike zone and pitched six innings and allowed five hits, two earned runs and struck out 10 batters and threw 62 strikes. Cameron Gassman pitched three innings, allowed two hits, no run and struck out six batters and threw 34 strikes against the Wildcats’ offense in the frame.
To propel the offensive execution, Ethan Ramsey led the Panthers with one run batted in for an RBI, while Gassman, Luke Harper and Matt Stone each collected a hit apiece. Ramsey hit a sacrifice fly, which contributed to the Panthers tying the contest up at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning.
Harper, Damien Stevens, Ramsey and Wilson Ballentine led the scoring attack and scored a run apiece. Ballentine, Stone, and Gassman surged the base running
Panthers vs. Aurora Christian of Illinois
The Panthers experienced their first taste of out-of-state competition on the diamond Wednesday as they didn’t disappoint the PPRD baseball fans and displayed a courageous victory against the Aurora Christian Eagles of Illinois 7-6 at the Cove.
Once again, the Panthers had to overcome a little bit of adversity and trailed the Eagles 1-0 at the end of first inning action. In the second inning, the Panthers knotted the game at 1-1, but the Eagles regained the lead with a run scored in the top of the third inning. With a one-run deficit at 2-1, the Panthers rallied with their highest scoring inning of the contest and routed six runs in the bottom of the third and led the Eagles 7-2. From this point, the Panthers didn’t surrender its lead or momentum through the seventh inning. The fourth and fifth innings were scoreless, but the Eagles rallied back with four runs scored in the top of the seventh, but the Panthers’ defense led by Stevens on the mound for the infield execution put the knock out punch to ignite the key three outs made to secure the one-run win.
The Panthers sparked for seven runs on three hits while the Eagles scored six runs on six hits to win the batting war in the frame with four errors—falling a run short in defeat.
Defensively, the Panthers utilized three pitchers to ignite the strike zone. Harper started out on the mound and pitched four innings, allowed three hits, one earned run and struck out seven batters and threw 49 strikes. Ramsey pitched one inning and allowed two hits, four earned runs and threw 16 strikes while facing eight batters.
Stevens finished out on the mound and pitched two innings, allowed one hit, no runs and struck out three batters and threw 26 strikes.
Offensively, Bryar Treadwell led the execution and drove in two runs for two RBIS, while Gassman, Stevens and Sulton each powered a hit apiece in the frame. Sulton and Stone each drove in a run for an RBI. Stevens led the scoring attack and scored two runs, Sulton, Ramsey, Treadwell, Calvin Mckinney and Ballentine each scored a run apiece.