Panthers defeat Pioneers

11-4 loss to a Strong Cabot Team

Carl's Scorecard

published Thursday, Apr. 13, 2006

The Pioneers took a tough loss tonight when they paired off aginst the Cabot Panthers. The Panthers are possibly the best batting team we have seen with 13 hits from three Pioneer pitchers.

With Pioneer pitcher Cameron Ward on the mound to start the game the Panthers siezed the initiative almost immediately. With one out, the Panthers scored five consecutive runs before another out was tallied. Three more hits and two more runs would be realized before the Pioneers could close the inning, behind 7-0. Although taking a heavy beating in the first inning, Ward stoically took the mound in the second inning and struck out the first batter. He would allow two more hits and one run this inning, gaining the upper hand much quicker in the second inning. In the top of the third Ward draws the first out with a ground ball, but the next batter slaps a ball out of the park bringing the score to 9-0 Panters. Ward is relieved by Clint Walls who sets the next two Panther batters down to end the top of the inning. Pioneer lead off batter Casey Aycock hits on and is advanced to third by Kelly Davis who doubles. Hunter Platt scores Aycock while drawing a tag at first, and Davis scores the second Pioneer run when a Panther error allows Evan Eary to advance to second, bringing the score to 9-2 Pioneers. In the fourth, only two runs score, both Home Runs. The Panther lead off batter scores first, and is answered by Trent Weeks with the first home run of his Pioneer career. Walls is relieved after one out in the fifth leaving runners at the corners. Jeff Whitener takes the mound and the Pioneers turn an unusual double play when Addison Rayford catches a fly ball and quickly relays it to first to catch the Panther runner before he can return safely. The score moves to it's final margin in the sixth when back to back hits by the Panthers add a run to their tally. Lead off batter Aaron Thornton hits and is advanced to third by Weeks who doubled into left field. Thornton scores when the left fielder mishandles the ball to bring the score to 11-4 Panthers. Whitener sets them down in order in the top of the seventh, and although the Pioneers manage to get runners on with hits from Platt and Eary none score, bringing the game to an end with the score still at 11-4 Cabot. Losing Pitcher: Ward. Hitting for the Pioneers; Eary(2b,1b) Ca. Aycock(1b) Davis(2b) Weeks(hr,2b) Platt(2x1b) Thornton(1b)

The Pioneers are off until Tuesday when they continue conference play against Greene County Tech at home. The Newport game originally scheduled for Monday was cancelled by Newport due to the need to make up a conference game on that date. I'm off to Fayetteville for the weekend to watch the Arkansas - Kentucky series and the Red White football game. See y'all on Tuesday!