Panthers grab great shutout win over Klein 3-0!

Klein Oak Panthers host the Klein Bearkats at home. Junior Garrett Harrison receives the pitching assignment from the Klein Oak coaching staff. The lefty begins the game staying ahead of five batters, the first two fly out to center fielder Justin Jones. Bearkats three and four hole both get singles and the last grounds out to Brent McMinn at first base. The bottom of the first inning the Panthers only see four batters, with Harrison and Andy Wilson receiving walks. 

Second inning. Harrison sees four Bearkats, the leadoff man singles and the second batter hits a sharp ground ball to Brent McMinn at first base, McMinn fields the ball and gets the sure out at first, turns and throws a laser strike to shortstop Austin Jackson for the tag out double play. There is an infield error and then the last out of the inning was a fly out to shortstop Jackson. Panthers get four batters up with Theiss walking to first, but is left stranded.  End of two no score. 

Top of three and top of the Bearkat line up. Leadoff hitter strikes out, two hole walks, three hole flyies out to right fielder Travis Hennessey. The next Bearkat singles and Harrison strikes out the last man.  Bottom of three and the Panthers go down one, two three. No score. 

Top of four and Harrison sees four Bearkats with a ground out executed by Jackson to McMinn, a strike out and a fly out to center fielder Jones. Bottom of the fourth inning and the Panther only see four in the batter box. With one out McMinn pulls an inside two and one fastball and stretches it out for a double. He advances to third off of a passed ball. Third basemen Ryan Hudnall is at a one and one count when the game is delayed for an hour while lightning passes through. Game resumes and McMinn is left on third base. Still no score. 

Top of the fifth. Harrison, after keeping active for an hour during the lightning exercise, resumes his role as Panther pitcher. He see’s three Bearkats with a fly out to Jones in center field, a grounder hit back to Harrison and a grounder to second baseman Dustin Theiss for the last out. Bottom of the fifth, with two outs Jackson receives a four pitch walk. Leadoff hitter Harrison belts a double down the left field line and lands on second for a stand up double and pushes Jackson to third base. The Panthers leave two men on.   

Top of the sixth inning. The first man up for the Bearkats is their cleanup hitter. He hits a line shot to that takes one hop two feet in front of first basemen McMinn who has to reach up and snag the one hopper which is above his head and tags first base for one out. [The TSRN announcers pronounce McMinn's work "textbook." Indeed.] Next batter doubles and the next batter is intentionally walked to keep the double play alive. Harrison quickly strikes out the next batter and the last batter grounds out to shortstop Austin Jackson to retire the side.

Bottom of the sixth, with one out McMinn advances to first off of a walk. Next right fielder, freshman, Hennessey drives a ball to left center field for a single. Next up is the Bearkat “game spoiler” Ryan Hudnall. After two balls and seeing flashbacks Klein Bearkat coach Smith decides to intentionally walk Hudnall to load the bases. The Bearkats bring in reliever Eric Fisher for the  starter Clayton Crum. Dustin Theiss comes to bat and takes the first pitch to left center field and stands on first after two Panthers score. Ethan Carnes comes up and walks to load the bases again. With one out Jackson hits a outfield sacrifice fly ball (great catch by Matt Purke in left) which scores Hudnall. Harrison takes a 3-1 walk and loads up the bases again. Unfortunately the Panthers leave three on base, but now lead 3-0. 

Top of the seventh and the Bearkats last opportunity to score some runs. Harrison returns to the mound to try and close up the game. Harrison faces four batters; the first hits a hard hit chopper up the middle which Harrison leaps up to snag and throws out the first Bearkat at first base. Next, the leadoff hitter for the Bearkats gets his first hit of the night with a single. The next batter hits a fly out to center fielder Jones and the game ends with a well caught line drive hit to Theiss at second base. Harrison gets the complete game shutout win!

Final Score 3-0 Panthers.