MAY 8, 2014– Entering the day on May 8, the North Central Eagles held a slim 1 game margin over the Stryker Panthers in the BBC. With the Eagles hitting the road to take on a tough Edon Bomber squad and the Panthers at home hosting the Hilltop Cadets, a win for the Eagles would lock down a conference title. With a Eagle loss and the Panthers taking care of visiting Hilltop, it would be a 8-2/8-2 finish and a split title.
For the North Central Eagles, it was a frustrating afternoon, as the host Bombers behind the brilliant pitching of River Wicker shut down the Eagles offence and recorded a 11-1 defeat over North Central. Across the county in Stryker, the Panthers did what they needed to do; focus and play winning ball against the visiting Cadets. Pitcher, Brody Shock delivered with a dominant performance, tossing a 5 hit shutout and moving the Panthers into a 1st place tie with a 5-0 victory.
North Central Eagles v Edon Bombers
Edon entered the game at 6-3 in the BBC behind solid pitching and a team wide output on offence throughout the year. On the day against the conference leading North Central Eagles, River Wicker took the mound and simply dominated the Eagles lineup, going 7 innings and allowing just 2 hits. Wicker also struck out 5 while allowing only 4 walks on the game.
Offensively for the Edon Bombers, Wyatt Zulch set the tone in game early from the plate, accounting for a double and a single, driving in a game high 4 RBI’s to lead the way. Kaden Sapp also had a big day at the plate, hitting for 3 singles in the game with an RBI; Landon Bloir and Conner Hug each connected for a double driving in a run while Brock Thiel Trevor Green and Wicker each had singles, with Wicker and Thiel credited with an RBI.
In the loss for North Central, Dylan Hutchison opened up the game on the mound, going 3 innings, allowing 3 earned runs off of 8 hits and 8 runs in the outing. Clayton Ferguson also saw action, going an inning, allowing 3 runs off of 2 hits.
At the plate for North Central, Branden Turner and Colton Pilmore mustered the only hits for the Eagles in the loss.
With the loss, North Central dropped to 8-2 in the BBC and 15-4 on the season, while Edon moved to 7-3 in the BBC and 12-7 on the year.
Runs / Hits / Errors
North Central 1 – 2 – 2
Edon 11 – 10 – 2
Stryker Panthers v Hilltop Cadets
For the Stryker Panthers, Brody Shock imposed his will on the visiting Hilltop Cadets from the mound, throwing the full 7 innings and giving up just 5 hits in the shutout. Shock also struck out 7 hitters in the victory while allowing no walks on the day.
For Stryker at the plate, Jacob Hancock went 1 for 2 and crossed the plate for 2 runs in the game; Cody hall and Zack Birky along with Shock also recorded hits in the win, with Hall driving in an RBI. Dean Beamont and Colton Benson each had an RBI also in the Panther’s must win game.
For the visiting Cadets, Justin Grapengeter went 4 innings on the mound, giving up 3 hits and 4 walks while allowing 4 runs. Chad Champion also saw action fir Hilltop, throwing 2 innings and allowing 1 run and 1 hit in the loss.
In the batter’s box for Hilltop, Grapengeter, Champion, Miklo Abner, Quinn Smith and Dallas Timberman each connected for hits, but the cadets were unable to get a runner across the plate in the game.
With the victory, Stryker moved to 8-2 on the season in the BBC and 10-9 on the year. Hilltop winds up at 3-7 in conference and 4-17 on the season.
Runs / Hits / Errors
Stryker 5 – 4 – 0
Hilltop 0 – 5 – 2