Panthers comeback ends in dramatic win at LaPorte 6-5!

It was a blistery, cold evening at the Bulldogs ball field when Kaleb Goodell led off the inning with an eight pitch walk.  Jacob Phillips, “JP”, next successfully bunts past the pitcher for a base hit to advance Goodell to second.  The next three Panthers go down leaving two on base.  Junior Panther JP takes the mound for the Panthers and starts off with a four pitch strike out.  The next Bulldog is walked and quickly picked off when JP throws to first baseman Garrett Harrison who throws a strike to Shortstop Dustin Theiss who puts the tag on the helpless Bulldog for the second out of the bottom half of the first inning.  JP takes matters into his own hands and puts down the final out of the inning with another four pitch strikeout. 

Top of two, with one quick out, Travis Walker advances to first base with a single, Theiss walks and Tyler Mason is hit by a pitch to juice the bags.  The next two Panthers could not muster a hit and the Panthers go down leaving three men on base.  JP returns to the mound with two quick out on five pitches with a groundout to Walker at third base to Harrison at first base and a fly out to right fielder Ethan Carnes.  The next Bulldog hits a double, but is left on base with the next batter flying out to right fielder Travis Hennessey.   

Top of three and pitcher JP raps another single followed by a Harrison single up the middle.  Clean up hitter Carnes  crunches a single to left center to bring in pinch runner Alex Belcher for JP for the first blood of the night.  The next three Panthers go down in order, but not before the Bulldog catcher makes an errant throw to second advancing Harrison home for the second run for the Panthers.  Carnes is left on third.  JP return to the bump and walks the leadoff batter and the batter advances to second from a pickoff attempt.   The next three Bulldogs go down in order, two striking out and a fly out to center field Goodell.  Panthers lead 2-0. 

Top of the fourth and Dustin Theiss leads off with a single in the line shot to left field.  Theiss advances to second when the pitcher balks on his first move.  The next two Panthers go down with infield ground balls, but advance Theiss to third base.  JP then is hit by a pitch and steals second base the first pitch.  Both men are left on base with the final ground out.  Bottom of the fourth and JP returns to the mound and walks the lead off Bulldog.  The second batter also advances to first base.  The third Bulldog hits a dangerous line drive that hits JP in the left bicep and ricochets to second base scoring the first run for La Porte.  JP is hurt, but OK, and is replaced by Travis Hennessy.  Andy Wilson enters the game replacing  Hennessey in left field.  Hennessey takes the rock with two men on and no outs, walks the first batter to juice the bases.  Next Bulldog hits a single up the middle to go ahead by one run.  Hennessey then fans the next three batters with twelve pitches. 2-3 Bulldogs. 

Top of fifth with a lead off single by Carnes to right field.  Next Hennessey hits a gaper into left center for a standup double, no outs with Carnes at third.  Jacob Fowler then takes a walk to load up the bags.   The next two Panthers go down for two outs and Mason comes to the plate and takes one for the team to tie up the ball game.  The Panther leave the bases loaded.  Hennessy returns to the mound and puts the first down with a quick ground ball back to him and a throw out to first baseman Harrison.  The next Bulldog walks and the third batter hits a towering fly out to shortstop Theiss for the second out.  Next, Panther catcher, Blake Diver, throws a strike to second to end the inning catching a stealing Bulldog attempt.  Tie ball game at 3’s. 

Top of the sixth, with two quick Panther outs Carnes hits another single to left field but is left on base with a final Panther ground out.  Hennessey returns to the mound and see’s four Bulldogs that do no damage with one advancing to first on an error, one strike out, a fly out to center fielder Goodell and the final out was a fly out behind in shallow left  caught by second baseman Jacob Fowler.  3-3 ball game. 

Top of seven brought Panther second baseman, Fowler, who slams a double to left center field.  Next Walker takes a four pitch walk which brings up Theiss who battles a full count walk to load the bases.  Mason then takes a four pitch walk to walk in the go ahead run.  Goodell come to the plate with bases loaded and does his job with a outfield sacrifice fly to score Walker.  Next Panther left fielder Wilson hits a laser down to the La Porte first baseman who stays away from harm’s way catches the line shot and tags first base for a unlucky double play.  Hennessey hurls a four pitch strike out to the first Bulldog and walks the nest.  The third batter hits a single up the middle and the next Bulldog singles to right field.  Next two batters find first base on Panther errors and manage to tie the ball game.  Tyler Mason relieves Hennessey with bases loaded and one out.  Three pitches latter he’s jogging off the field to the dugout after a two fly outs one to third baseman Walker and the other to left fielder Wilson.   

Extra innings, top of eight.  With one down “Big E” Carnes steps into the batter’s box and takes a 1-2 count curveball and puts a towering shot over the right field fence.  The Panthers leave Hennessey on base after he walks.  Mason returns to his mound and the leadoff batter advances to first off of a single.  Six pitches later three batters sit down with a ground ball to Mason, a ground ball to Harrison and Walker finishes it with a ground ball to Walker.  Panther’s win an exciting game one of the season.