Panthers Bounce Back With Big Win To Keep Championship Hopes Alive

Following a tough loss to the Boca Eagles earlier this week, the Panthers were challenged to rebound with a victory or risk playing themselves right out of the 2012 HSBN Fall Classic.

Friday evening, the team seized that opportunity in a big way with a decisive 10-1 victory over the host Wildcats in a contest played at Western High.

The Panthers are now 1-1 in the tournament and still have a chance to advance from Bracket E.

“This was a good team we faced tonight, but we took advantage of some freebies on walks by following them with big hits,” Panthers manager Glen Pierson said.

Following Friday’s victory, Pierson had plenty of players who had earned his praises, and with due cause after the way his guys had gotten after it on the field.

“The guys believe in our hitting approach and they have bought in on our program. We’re a young squad, but despite being young, they have committed to working,” said Pierson.

What began as a tight contest slowly turned into a Panthers rout as they continued to plug away and make the most of every opportunity.

Chandler Cissel supplied the decisive runs on a towering two-run home run on a shot over the right-field wall that put the team up for good at 3-1 in the top of the third inning. Cissel also put them on the board with a sacrifice RBI groundout that scored starting pitcher Adam Saks in the first, and then singled and scored in the sixth to finish 2-for-4 on the day.

Saks led off the game with a standup double on a shot that soared to the left center-field wall, and also finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

On the mound, the right-hander overcame a rocky first frame to put in a strong performance. Saks threw 80 pitches in five innings of work, allowing four hits and a walk while recording five strikeouts.

The Wildcats (1-1) answered back with their first swings to stay in the game, as Ryan Gabriel crushed a shot to deep center field for a solo home run that tied the game at one run apiece after an inning of play.

But once the Panthers regained the lead they never looked back.

“Zack Kone had a couple of well-struck balls and Richard Meli put a nice one down the right line,” Piersen said. “I was also very happy with Ravi Bahkai; he made good use of his at-bats out of the nine-hole.”

Every Panthers starter reached base as they scored runs in nearly every inning, the last of which came on a big two-run hit from Ben Fiedler in the sixth.

Matt Rothenberg had a single, drew a pair of walks and was hit by a pitch to reach base all four attempts. He also swiped two bases and scored three runs, and then closed the final two innings on the mound with three strikeouts while allowing only a single to Anthony DiFabio.

“Rothenberg did exactly what we want to finish the game tonight,” said Pierson, who admitted that the team’s strong play on defense played just as strong an impact in the final result.

Particularly in the bottom of the third inning when right fielder Tom Walker made an impressive diving catch to rob Ryan Gabriel of an RBI hit. Tyler Fichter had led off with a single and then stole second base, but ultimately was left stranded after Walker’s big catch.

The Wildcats only managed one more hit the rest of the way, as Saks got stronger as the game wore on.

“Saks is very poised for a young guy and he did a terrific job tonight,” Pierson said.

Fichter also led off the first inning with a single and stolen base to go 2-for-3.

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