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5-03-08 vs. Washington Panthers

Wildcats come back in 2nd game to split with Panthers

The tale end of winter returned to Parkside field on this first Saturday in May and the blankets and parkas returned to the sidelines for this matchup between the Wildcats and the Panthers.  Based on the horn honking for home runs, more fans were in their cars along the left field parking lot than in the stands (including writers). 

After falling to the Panthers in the first game, the Wildcats bounced back behind lively bats and the return of Ronnie Stevens to the mound to win 11-3, splitting the twin bill.  Stevens pitched three strong innings after returning a few days ago from a long bout with the flu.  He only gave up one unearned run on two hits and two walks, striking out three.  He was helped by a nice play to cut a runner down at home plate for the 2nd out in the 3rd inning.  With runners on 1st and 2nd, Cody Auer charged a single to left and threw a strike to Kevin Henkels, who fired to Brian Imig at home for the tag.

Brandon Herzog and Cody Auer held the Panthers at bay over the final four innings.  Auer didn't allow any runs or hits in his two innings of work, striking out three batters.

The Wildcat bats were hot right from the start.  Adam Seifert led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a home run to right center, just as he did in the first game.  Kyle Vaughn and Erik Sipes followed with singles and after some walks, Ronnie Stevens singled in two runs to give the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.  The Wildcats tacked on 3 more in the 5th inning when Ronnie Stevens got all the way to second on a wild pitch strikeout, Brian Imig got a single, followed by an Adam Seifert single and a double by Trey Rogers.  A Hunter Guthrie walk, followed by Zach Boicken and Ronnie Stevens singles keyed the final two runs in the 6th inning.  Ronnie had three hits to the lead the Wildcats, with Adam Seifert and Erik Sipes having two.

In the first game, seven errors haunted the Wildcats as only two of the Panthers runs were earned.  Adam Seifert got the Wildcats on the board in the 1st with a home run and also scored in the 3rd inning after a walk and an Erik Sipes RBI single.  Erik singled, stole second and scored on a Trey Rogers single to account for the Wildcats other run.  

Erik Sipes worked the first four innings, giving up eight runs, but only two were earned.  He allowed five hits, struck out six and walked four.  Adam Seifert worked the final three innings, giving up one hit and no walks while striking out three.

The Wildcats ran their record to 13-9 and have a couple days without games on Monday and Tuesday before meeting the Bloomington Raiders on Wednesday at 4:30 at BHS.