Panthers grab 7th inning win over Cy-Creek 8-7!

Panther JV came up with a win Friday night beating Cy Creek Cougars; but it was a night where defense kept both teams in the game through seven.  Abdul Houck took the mound for Oak and was relieved by Chad LaPaglia in the bottom of the 5^th who sealed the win with a decisive strike out in the bottom of the 7th.

Klein Oak’s Dylan Rocka singled with a high pop up that dropped between three Cougars putting him on first to start the game.  He went from first to third on a hard hit ball to the right corner by Ryan Moon but was out at the plate trying to score on a fielder’s choice by Reid Frazier.    Oak left two stranded and ended the inning empty handed bringing the Cougars to bat.

A quick fly-out to Adam Lemmon in right started the Panther defense but a single to center and a double over third base followed by a walk loaded the bases for the Cougars.  Williams caught a pop up over first and the Panthers had a chance to get out of the inning, but another double scored two before Houck struck out the 7^th batter of the inning ending the side with Oak behind by two.

Sloan bunted to start the inning but just missed beating out the throw and Alex Hass walked and stole second.  Adam Lemmon walked and a double steal moved him to second and Hass to third.  Pinch hitter Zach Schulze scored Hass but came up short at first.  A fly-out to center ended the inning but Oak cut the lead by one.

Cy Creek put a runner on to start the bottom of the second with a hard hit to short but Oak answered with two Houck to Williams relays putting two quick outs on the board.   Williams fielded the grounder and made the unassisted out at first to end the inning keeping the score Cy Creek 2, Oak 1.

The Cougar defense played tough in the third but Nolan Holland was hit in the head as the second batter and went on to steal second base.  Frazier walked and was called out on a questionable throw over when Williams hit a double scoring Holland.  A great play by Cy Creek’s shortstop ended Oaks at bat but Oak was able to tie the score.

Cy Creek put another run on the board in the bottom of the 3^rd when a single turned into a double with a throwing error putting a runner in scoring position.  Williams scooped one out of the dirt for a quick out and and a sac fly to Sloan scored the first batter.  Holland came up with the third out with a fly ball to center. 

Oak returned in the top of the 4^th with a double over center’s head by Adam Lemmon.  A single by Schulze moved Lemmon to third and Rocka scored him but failed to reach himself.  Moon’s quickness beat out a dropped third strike a single line drive by Holland scored Schulze.  Frazier walked and a single by Williams scored two, Moon and Holland, but Frazier was called out the plate to end the inning with Oak up 6-3.

Cy Creek took one back in the bottom of the 4^th when they started the inning with two quick singles.  A strike out by Houck slowed down the Cougars and the next batter reached on an error and scored the only run for Creek that inning.  A fly out to Holland in center and a pop up to Williams at first ended the inning with Oak’s lead at 2.

The top of the fifth was unproductive for Oak with 6-3 groundout and a popup and line drive to second for the three Panthers.  Cy Creek’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth after a Hass to Williams relay retired the first batter.  A single line drive followed by an RBI double to right center scored one.  Houck recorded his second strike out but 2 RBI singles scored two more and Oak made a pitching change bringing in Chad LaPaglila who faced only one batter when Sloan ran down the popup ending the inning with Oak behind 7-6.

A quick third to first throw by Cy Creek started the top of the sixth but Rocka singled and went from first to third on a Moon single.  Pinch Runner Blake Ashford went in to run for Moon and Cy Creek made a pitching change.  A strike out by the next batter left two on base for Oak and Cy Creek loaded the bases with an intentional walk of Frazier.   Unfortunately for the Cougars they walked the next batter putting Williams at first and walking in Rocka, tying the score.  The inning ended with an incredible catch by Cy Creek on a line drive to right.

The Panther defense was behind LaPaglia in the bottom of the sixth with a Hass to Williams relay followed by flyout catches by Sloan and Lemmon in the corners to retire the side 1-2-3 for Cy Creek.

The Panthers had one more chance at bat in the 7^th with a Hass single which ended in a questionable pick off at first (which produced an incredulous Holy Cow from Coach Harwell) followed with a walk by Lemmon.  Schulze grounded into a fielder’s choice with Lemmon out at second but a speedy Schulze was able to prevent the double play keeping him at first. Rocka came to the plate with two outs and one on.  Schulze stole second and went home on a Rocka double putting Oak ahead by one.  A fly out to left retired the side with Cy Creek coming to bat behind.