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Panthers reclaim first in the CVAC
Friday's local roundup Staff Reports A rough week ended on a positive for the Hibriten baseball team. A big positive. After dropping games Monday and Wednesday, the Panthers won 7-5 at Bunker Hill Friday. Couple that with a St. Stephens loss to Foard Friday (4-0), and the Panthers are back in sole possession of the top spot in the Catawba Valley Athletic Conference with three games to go. Hibriten (14-4 overall, 12-3 CVAC) road a strong pitching performance by Bryan Tuttle and eight Panthers knocked hits as they rallied for six runs in the final two innings to win. Tuttle, now 7-1, was in his first start after injuring his shoulder this week. But the junior righty threw a complete game, struck out eight and allowed two earned runs. “He gutted it up,” Hibriten coach Terry Henthorne said. “He stuck right in there.” Trailing 3-1 through five innings, the Panthers took control with three runs in the sixth. Billy Copper and Trent Reynolds (also back from injury) drew walks and Joel Woods drove in a run with a single to center. Jack Howard then walked to load the bases and Gavin Christian, the only Panther with two hits on the night, drove in two runs with a single to left. Hibriten extended its lead to 7-3 in the seventh when Woods walked with the bags full and Howard hit a two-RBI single to right. Bunker Hill scored two runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Zack Shephard and a fielder's choice, but it wasn't enough. Copper got the Panthers started Friday with a solo home run in the first inning, his first blast of the year. Batting in the No. 2 spot, Copper smacked an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left. Bunker Hill responded in the fifth with a Cameron Beard RBI-hit and a two-run home run by three-sport athlete Chase Patterson. Much like its week turned out, Henthorne said his team had a good and a bad practice all in one Thursday. The practice started off poorly and Henthorne threatened to end the workout. But the Panthers responded and impressed their coach the rest of practice, then again Friday night. “We came out with a little more fire,” Henthorne said. The Panthers return to action Tuesday when they travel to Maiden. They close out the CVAC season with Bandys and Hickory at home. Panther JVs fall 7-6 The Hibriten junior varsity team took a 7-6 loss Friday to Bunker Hill. Jonathan Whitehead was 3-for-3 at the plate with a grand slam. Alex Austin had two hits. Austin Beard took the loss. He pitched seven innings and struck out eight. Soccer Warriors fall 1-0 The West Caldwell soccer team lost 1-0 at Patton Friday, but coach Andrew Kanagy was encouraged by his team's play. The Warriors lost the first meeting with the Panthers 6-0. “It was a better overall effort from everybody,” Kanagy said. “I was very proud of my girls.” West returns to action Monday against non-conference foe Forbush.
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