The Alba-Golden Panthers are bi-district champions, having dispatched the Rivercrest Rebels by scores of 6-5, 3-14 and 2-1, last week in Grand Saline. The series was a shining example of why the three-game convention is important.

Last Thursday’s game one was a thriller, which the Panthers walked off in the bottom of the seventh. The Rivercrest Rebels were the champions of District 17-2A, so there was no doubt that they would be back in game two. They came storming back. 

Not only did they come back, but in Friday’s game two, the Panthers were largely missing in action. For six innings, Alba-Golden simply could not do anything right. The dire loss of game two, 14-3, left many concerned about the mindset and focus of the Panther’s squad.

Coach Drew Webster described the situation, “We just needed to remind each other that we were district champions as well…. We came to game three refocused and with a business-like attitude.”

The team responded. 

Mason Smith got the start in game three with Brett Sutton taking the duties behind the plate. Smith had 110 pitches left for the series, and he made great use of them, throwing seven innings of one-run baseball. 

Rivercrest’s senior ace Gus Johnson was in a similar situation, and the two combined for a true pitching duel.

The Rebels put up a run in the fourth on a clean single with two men on.

In ensuing action, Panther shortstop Boogie Trimble made a great play deep in the hole at short and pegged a throw to Sutton at the plate to nab a second Rebel trying to score. 

In the sixth, it was Alba-Golden’s turn. Tucker Samples stroked a single with runners on second and third. Hunter Whitecotton came in to score, while Cason Boyd was out at the plate trying to reach home on the play.

Samples came in as relief in the eighth. He had 30 pitches yet available and was able to go two innings. Pitching duties then passed to Landon Dunham in the tenth.  The lefty shut down the Rebels. 

The winning run came after Trimble put a ball in play which was lost in the sun in right field. He ended up with a double. Trimble stole third and came home when Smith lined a single into center field. 

The Panthers had remarkably reversed their fortunes over the previous 24 hours. To their great credit, they put game two behind them and were able to produce a disciplined 10-inning series winner. 

Alba-Golden will be facing Harleton for one game only on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Kilgore’s historic Driller Park – one of the best baseball venues in East Texas.