(April 23rd, 2015) – EDON: When last the Panthers of Stryker and the Bombers of Edon met up, the former won a defensive battle 1-0. In the second match-up between the two squads, things went quite differently.
Stryker topped the Bomber boys 17-5 in a convincing victory on the road.
It was a gradual progression that led to the Panthers pulling so far away from their host. In the first inning, Stryker got things going with 2 runs, which Edon could not rebut. Another 2 runs in the second inning for the visiting Panther boys were this time answered with a pair of scores from the Bombers. A scoreless third inning left the margin at 4-2 in favor of Stryker going into the fourth.
The Panthers exploded with 5 runs in the top of the inning. Edon had difficulty keeping up, bringing home just 1 run in the bottom of the fourth. They would add 2 more runs to their total in the fifth, placing the hometown boys in a more manageable 9-5 deficit. Yet that would be as close to Stryker as they would get, as the Panthers closed out the contest with 4 runs in the sixth and 5 in the seventh, refusing to give up another run to the Edon boys.
Guiding the Stryker bats was sophomore Brody Shock. Hitting for 2 singles and a 3 run home run, driving in 4 RBIs overall. Chad Ruffer also brought in 4 RBIs, doing so with a quartet of singles.
Colton Lyman hit for a single and a double for the Bombers. Junior Logan Bloir earned a pair of hits with 2 singles.
Parker Ruffer picked up the win for Stryker, throwing for six innings. The senior standout gave up 3 earned runs off of 6 hits. He also had 7 strikeouts and 3 walks. Chad Ruffer was called in to close out the contest in the seventh, retiring the side finish off Edon.
Braden began the game at the mound for the Bomber boys. Pitching 3.1 innings, he allowed 6 earned runs from 5 hits, striking out 2 and walking 4 along the way. Hayden Runyan relieved Miller, but didn’t fair much better, giving up 7 earned runs on 6 hits. Carson Brandt and Jared Best were also called in for relief in the loss.