Don Kuhnen, AP Sports
The EP Panther boys hosted the TRAC conference leading Sherrard Tigers Monday in Prophetstown and dropped an 11-0 ball game. The Tigers are now 14-1 on the season and the Panthers dropped their 8th in a row to fall to 2-8.
The Tigers came off the bus with their hitting shoes on and jumped on the Panthers and starter Nate Packer with back-to-back doubles to start and turned that into a 5 run inning in the top of the first.
Sherrard added a single run in their second at bat as Packer and the Panthers settled down and made some nice defensive plays to keep the highly touted visitors within range. Unfortunately, the Panther bats never came alive. The Panthers were limited to two singles in the contest, one each by Caden VanHorn and Logan Copeland. Parker Rangel and Braedyn Frank each drew walks but those were the only other baserunners EP mustered in the contest.
The score remained 6-0 until the Tigers reached Panther reliever Camden Collis for 3 more runs in the sixth and 2 in the seventh for the final score.
Panther coach Jeff Wunderlich was pleased that his Panther squad played an errorless game but was disappointed with the lack of an offensive attack.
JV Lose
The JV Panthers had no better luck with Sherrard than the varsity as they fell 12-0.
EP only managed 2 hits in the game with Tigers putting a 6 spot on the board in the fourth. Panther starter Alastaire Sweetser went three innings giving up 4 hits, 6 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, and 5 walks.
The Panthers host Orion Tuesday afternoon in Prophetstown at 4:30.
