Sports
Bells Panthers fall to Mildred Eagles in area round
By Erin Klose
May 14, 2008
The Bells Panthers faced off with the Mildred Eagles in Area II round of playoff action on Friday and Saturday. The Eagles would take the series 2-1, but not before the Panthers would try their best to advance deeper into the playoffs. The boys never gave up, and they gave the fans a great season of baseball.
Senior pitcher, Matt Romig and catcher Reed Klose would team up in game 1 on Friday against the Eagles. Romig pitched a complete game, striking out 12, walking 4 and allowing 6 hits. The Panthers would get out front early with a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Nathan Martin walked and Trey Pedigo singled. Ryan Klose had a deep shot to left field to score Martin and Coltin Payne would ground out to third, but score Pedigo.
In the second inning, Max Morris would be the only Panther to reach base with a single and then steal second, but be left stranded. The second inning would be an inning of errors for the Panthers, and ultimately, be the deciding factor at the end of the game. Eagles' second baseman, Drew Burnett, would get a lead-off double, advance to third on a wild pitch, and then score on an over throw to third for an attempted pick-off by Romig. Trevor Burnett would reach base on a fielding error by third baseman Cody Vaughn. Next up, designated hitter, Austin Melton singled to center field and stole second to put runners on second and third for the Eagles. Romig would again try to pick-off the runner at third, but over throw and two more runs would score. Two walks and a single later, two more runs would score before Romig would get a strike out to end the inning. The Mildred Eagles would take a 5-2 lead after two complete innings.
Senior left fielder, Nathan Martin would lead off for the Panthers in the third inning with a double to left field wall, and Ryan Klose would also double to left field to score Martin for the only Panther run in the inning. Panther first baseman, Ryan Klose would hustle to catch a long fly out, Romig would strike out two batters, but T. Burnett would be the only runner with double in the inning for the Eagles. The Panthers would trail 5-3 after three innings.
The fourth inning would be quick with both teams going three-up three-down. In the fifth inning Bells would have the top of the lineup back up and Vaughn would single, Martin walk, then Ryan Klose would single to center field, scoring Vaughn. Payne would score Martin on a sac fly to right field to bring the Panthers tied 5-5. The Eagles would load the bases with one out in the fifth inning. After a single and two walks, designated hitter, Austin Melton would fly out to left field but score a run and Romig would end the inning with a strikeout. The Eagles would take the lead 6-5.
Vaughn would be the only Panther to reach base in the sixth inning with an error on right field. Romig would then get two strike outs and a shortstop, Payne would catch a line drive to end the sixth inning and the score would remain 6-5. The Panthers had one last chance, but could not manage any runners in the seventh inning, and the Eagles would take the victory 6-5.
Ryan Klose would go 3-4 (double and 3 RBI), Nathan Martin 1-2 (double, 2 walks, 3 runs), Max Morris 1-3, Cody Vaughn 1-4 (1 run), Trey Pedigo 1-4 (1 run), Coltin Payne 0-3 (2 RBI), and Joe Wright 0-2 (walk).