Indians prevail against Panthers
MAGNET COVE — The Poyen Indians and the Magnet Cove Panthers displayed a tough and competitive match-up on the diamond Thursday for the 2A-5 Conference baseball showdown at the Cove. In seven innings of action, the visiting Tribe-indians prevailed 12-5 over the longtime arch-rival Panthers to ignite a rivalry duel on the diamond.
The Indians sparked for 12 runs on nine hits while the Panthers recorded five runs on seven hits.
GAME ACTION
The Indians jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. But, the Panthers answered back with two runs scored to anticipate a huge bout with Poyen leading by a run 3-2 after a sizzling first inning.
The Panthers stepped it up defensively in the second as the Tribe was held scoreless. Magnet Cove routed two runs around the bases and took a 5-3 lead against Poyen. The third and fourth innings were scoreless as the Panthers remained in total command.
But it was a thrilling fifth inning that the Tribe awoke the “Roll Tribe” effect and ignited six runs to take a 9-5 lead and regained the momentum of the rivalry battle. The Panthers’ unfortunately, felt the raft of the rivalry and fell short to rally back. The Tribe stayed hot and carried their momentum into the sixth and seventh innings that secured a seven-run victory. Poyen scored two runs in the top of the sixth, and one run in the top of the seventh.
ON THE MOUND
Poyen’s Kullen Conner and Hayden Murray ignited the Tribe’s strike zone from the rubber. Conner delivered the win and struck out nine batters and pitched five innings—while teammate Murray pitched two innings, allowed no hits, no runs and struck out four batters. The two Poyen pitchers combined for 80 strikes thrown across the plate.
Magnet Cove’s Cameron Gassman and Luke Harper provided the heat on the hill. Gassman pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowed five hits, three earned runs and struck out four batters— Harper pitched two and one-thirds innings, allowed four hits, one earned run and struck out four batters. Gassman and Harper combined for 75 strikes thrown from the hill.
HOME RUN SLUGGERS AT THE COVE
Magnet Cove’s Harper and Damien Stevens powered a home run—poyen’s Allen Fite smashed a home run for the Indians to display the top-notch highlight hits of the rivalry showdown at the Cove.
RIVALRY PERFORMERS ON THE DIAMOND
Poyen’s Fite led the offensive execution with three hits and a home run—landon Crosby, Hunter Woods each had multiple hits while Conner and Ryan Ray each sparked for a hit apiece. Fite led the scoring surge with three runs scored—conner, Hayden Byrd and Crosby each scored two runs—while the core of Murray, Woods, and Colt Barrett each scored a run.
Barrett sparked the base running with the lone stolen base. Fite also drove in five runs for five RBIS, Woods had two RBIS, Crosby and Trenton Russell each had an RBI apiece.
Magnet Cove’s Stevens led the Panthers offense with three hits and a home run, while Harper drove in three runs for three RBIS and collected a home run with Gassman, Bryar Treadwell and Calvin Mckinney each sparked for a hit apiece. Stevens led the scoring attack with two runs, Harper, Gassman and Mckinney each ignited a run apiece. Gassman, Matt Stone and Stevens led the base running and each had a stolen base.