NH rolls past Yantis Image
Senior AJ Horton (10) weighs his options on the base paths during the Panthers' game against Yantis Tuesday. In his senior night game, Horton batted 1/2, scored two runs, and recorded an RBI in the Panthers' 16-2 victory. Photo by DJ Spencer
Dj Spencer Sports Editor Sat, 04/20/2024 - 06:26 Body
BIRTHRIGHT — The North Hopkins Panthers won their fifth consecutive game Tuesday following a dominant 16-2 victory over the Yantis Owls. The game’s outcome would be decided early on, as the Panthers lit up the scoreboard early and kept the Owls off balance, leading to a blowout win.
It was also Senior Night for the Panthers, as they honored their two senior players - AJ Horton and Franky Valdez, as well as senior manager Brian Pacheco.
The Owls stepped up to the plate first, where they faced Kameron Jenkins on the mound. Yantis went down in order following a pair of ground outs and a strikeout.
The Panthers came to the plate next, and immediately gained a runner when Isai Franco was walked. Soon after, Hudson McFarlin brought Franco home with an RBI single, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
The bases then loaded up after both Griffen Arms and Jenkins walked. Junior Reyes then hit an RBI single, bringing McFarlin home and extending the Panthers’ lead to 2-0. Soon after, Arms scored on an error, bringing the score to 3-0.
Horton then walked, loading the bases again. This was followed by Rhett Vaughn hitting an RBI single, bringing Jenkins home and raising the score to 4-0. After Valdez struck out, Reyes scored on a wild pitch, making the score 5-0.
Kasen Gammil walked on the next at-bat, loading the bases up once again. Soon after, Horton scored on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 6-0. Vaughn then scored after another wild pitch, making the score 7-0.
Gammil then came home on another wild pitch, bringing the score to 8-0.
This was followed Franco being walked. He would soon score following yet another wild pitch, as the Panthers’ lead now stood at 9-0. The bases then loaded up after McFarlin and Arms walked, and Jenkins was hit by a pitch.
On the next at-bat, Reyes grounded out, but McFarlin managed to score, as the score climbed to 100. Horton then hit an RBI single, driving Arms home and making the score 11-0. The bases then loaded again when Vaughn walked.
Valdez was walked next, bringing Jenkins home and extending the Panthers’ lead to 12-0. Gammil then hit a 2-RBI single, driving Horton and Vaughn home and bringing the score to 14-0. The first inning finally came to an end when Franco hit a fly ball for an out.
The Owls were retired in order to begin the second inning, as Jenkins recorded three consecutive strikeouts.
The bottom of the second inning started with McFarlin being walked. After Arms hit a fly ball for an out, the bases loaded up when Jenkins hit a single and Reyes walked.
After Horton struck out, Vaughn hit an RBI single, bringing McFarlin home and bringing the score to 15-0. Valdez was walked next, bringing Jenkins home and raising the score to 16-0. The inning came to an end after Ryker Berry was tagged out on a dropped third strike.
The third inning began with a walk. A ground out followed, but a run was also scored, as the Owls trimmed the score to 16-1. Following a walk, an RBI double brought home another run, trimming the score to 16-2.
From there, a pair of strikeouts ended the game, as the Panthers capped off a 16-2 blowout win.
As a team, the Panthers batted 7 for 13 (.538) from the plate. Vaughn led with two hits, while Gammil, Horton, Jenkins, McFarlin, and Reyes added one hit each.
Jenkins and McFarlin shared the title of leading scorer with three runs each. Arms, Franco, Horton, and Vaughn tallied two runs each, while Gammil and Reyes scored one run each.
Jenkins earned the victory on the mound. Across three innings, he struck out six batters, allowing just two walks, two earned runs, and one hit.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 14-5 on the season. They will be back in action Tuesday, when they welcome the Como-Pickton Eagles to North Hopkins High School.
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