Panthers overpowered by Frankston

Posted 3/24/22

The visiting Frankston Indians used a hitting onslaught to capture a 15-3 win over Alba-Golden in the Panthers’ final pre-district game Friday.

The pitchers threw into a stiff headwind which …

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Panthers overpowered by Frankston

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The visiting Frankston Indians used a hitting onslaught to capture a 15-3 win over Alba-Golden in the Panthers’ final pre-district game Friday.

The pitchers threw into a stiff headwind which gusted throughout the game. It could be that the wind gave the hitters a split-second decision advantage when facing the opposing hurlers. Frankston chalked up 18 base hits, while the Panthers mustered eight, but left seven runners on base. 

The Indians put one runner on in the first. Alba-Golden center fielder Glen Hartley gave a yeoman’s effort to close on a line drive to center but was unable to make the catch. By the time he corralled the ball, Frankston had a runner in scoring position. Starter Chaelton Cook then shut the Indians down and the runner was stranded. 

Hartley led off for the Panthers and redeemed himself by stretching a clean single into a double. He never hesitated as he burned around first and caught the Indians completely by surprise. 

He advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored after tagging up following a deep fly ball to left by Cook. 

Frankston brought their bats to Wood County, as they gauged in on Cook for seven base hits in the second inning. Three of those went for extra bases, and the Indians built a 7-1 lead. They added one in the third, four in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Three Panthers – Cook, Easton Campbell and Micah Smith – threw on the day. The Indians grooved each of the hurlers, despite the Alba-Golden pitchers combining to record 10 strike-outs.

It was a day on which the Frankston team was simply locked-in at the plate.  

The Panthers rallied in the sixth. Hartley, who went 3-for-4 on the day, led off with a single to left. He scored on a stand-up double by Campbell. Tyler Perez drove Campbell home with a one-out single.     

Alba-Golden loaded the bases in the seventh when Donald McVay reached on a throwing error, and Hartley and Campbell each contributed a single. McVay was cut down at the plate when Cook smacked a sharp comebacker which was handled by the opposing pitcher who made a quick throw for the force at home. The sequence ended hopes for a rally.  

The Panthers are in for a solid district run. They play disciplined defense, are situationally-aware and able to put scoring sequences together. The strength of their line-up is the top half however, and the Panthers will have to generate baserunners from the bottom half of their order in order to challenge in the district. 

Alba-Golden opened district play Tuesday at Miller Grove. They host Yantis Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.