Published: May 10, 2008 10:33 pm            

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Panthers deny Highlanders HHC repeat

FLOYDS KNOBS — When you are playing in a tournament, records are pretty much meaningless. All that matters is how you execute.

On Saturday at Highlander Field, the Jennings County baseball team executed its offense to near-perfection and defeated Floyd Central in the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament championship game, 13-6.

The Panthers, who evened their record at 11-11, won the conference title for the first time since 2005. The Highlanders (14-9) were denied a chance to repeat as HHC champions.

“When you play the conference tournament, you throw the records out the window,” Jennings County head coach Paul Madinger said. “I’m proud of the boys. We’ve battled injuries all year and had some suspensions. The kids fought through.”

The Panthers collected 14 hits with three players getting three hits apiece. B.J. Perry went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Zack Hicks was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, and Tanner Waltz was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two doubles.

Also for Jennings, Kellen Begeman went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Kevin Daeger was 2-for-4 and plated two runs.

“Give them credit. They came out and took (over the game),” Floyd head coach Casey LaDuke said. “They put pressure on us. They did a great job of reacting to our big innings. You’ve got to tip your hat to them.”

The Panthers took a 7-0 lead after three innings. Begeman drove in two runs with a double in the first frame, and teammate Adam Tucker had an RBI single in the second. Jennings scored four runs in the third with the big hit being a three-run double by Hicks down the left-field line.

“That’s important anytime,” Madinger said about the early 7-0 advantage. “Anytime you put runs on the board, it’s important.”

The Highlanders cut their deficit to three by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ben Stillman hit an RBI single to center, followed by Kyle Naville coming home on a fielder’s choice. Later in the inning, Nick Peters scored on a wild pitch and Keith Kulwicki delivered an RBI single.

“We had some good at-bats and we hit the ball hard,” LaDuke said about the fourth.

But the Panthers answered in the top of the fifth. With one out, Perry blasted a three-run homer over the 375-foot sign in left field to put Jennings up 10-4. Floyd scored its final two runs in the bottom half when Naville smacked a two-run shot down the left-field line.

The Panthers plated three more runs the rest of the way. They scored two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Begeman and Hicks, and Waltz had a one-run double in the seventh.

Naville was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and two RBIs. Teammate L.J. Martin went 2-for-3 with a double.

Floyd starting pitcher Dylan Bleemel picked up the loss. The junior gave up five runs (two earned) on five hits with a strikeout.

“Dylan is a junior and he does not have a lot of experience,” LaDuke said. “He’ll learn from this. If anything, he got some help for next year.”

Jennings starter Ben Solloman allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two.

The Highlanders will visit Louisville Southern on Monday.



JENNINGS COUNTY 214 032 1—13 14 2

FLOYD CENTRAL 000 420 0— 6 9 4

W — Solloman (2-3). L — Bleemel (2-2). 2B — Waltz 2 (J), Begeman (J), Hicks (J), Naville 2 (F), Martin (F). HR — Perry (J), Naville (F).

Records — Floyd 14-9, Jennings County 11-11.

        

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