by David Tesitor
CROWLEY COUNTY, SWINK — The John Mall Panthers opened their 2018 baseball season splitting a pair of games against the Crowley County Chargers in a high scoring affair which saw a total of 53 runners cross the plate.
In the first game, John Mall fell 12-10. Leading the batters for the Panthers was Dylan DiMatteo who was two of three with two runs batted in, but Milton Perez drove in three runs off a home run in the second inning. The Panthers took the early lead after one by the score of 4-3 and another three in the second inning to open a comfortable 7-3 margin after two.
The Chargers’ pitching staff came alive mid-game, holding the Panthers scoreless for the next three innings, while at the same time scored eight runs to hold onto the lead.
The second game went into extra innings with the Panthers winning 16-15. One hero of the game was Daniel Martinez who went three of five and three RBI’s. Alejandro Morales was two of three with four RBI’s, including one homerun.
With the score tied at 13 after five, both teams tried to figure out a way to get their stranded base runners to cross the plate, but a three run eighth inning for the Panthers was enough to claim their first win of the season.
On Saturday, the games against Swink were disastrous as the Panthers, who had been hot with their bats four days earlier, were shut out of both games, losing 11-0 and 13-0. In both games, the mercy 10-run rule was enacted. The Swink Lions pitched a no hitter against the Panthers, striking out 14 batters and walking only four. Swink played consistent ball throughout, scoring in every inning.
The Panthers will have a league contest tomorrow at home as they face the Fowler Grizzlies. First pitch is at 10 am.
