Pelham Baseball

Wednesday, the Panther’s baseball team took battle against rival Oak Mountain on a cool night in Bobby Hayes Stadium. Sophomore Trevor Fitts took the mound for the top ranked Panthers against the 12 and 9 Eagles. In the top of the first inning Fitts took no time establishing his dominance over the Eagle hitters, setting them down in order. Senior Alvin Hines led things off for the Panthers in the bottom of the first but popped up to shallow center field. Next up in the batting order was Junior Michael Bishop and on the first pitch he belted a homerun over left-center field wall to put the Panthers up early 1-0. The Panthers went on to score one run in the next two innings, while Fitts continued to exert his dominance he has continually had over hitters this season. The wave of momentum changed in the fourth and fifth innings towards that of the Eagles, scoring one run in each of the two innings cutting the Panther lead to one, 3-2, after five innings of play. The Panthers continued to hit the ball hard, but seemed to lack clutch hitting as the Panthers loaded the bases in the sixth with only one out but failed to deliver any runs as Pinch Hitter Anthony Rodriguez and Centerfielder Alvin Hines both struck out to end the inning, leaving three more base runners stranded. Going in to the seventh and last inning the Panthers held a minimal lead of 3-2. In the top of the seventh Oak Mountain went on to score four more runs by the way of sound fundamental baseball and a towering bomb over the right center field wall. The 6 to 3 lead was too much for the Panthers to overcome as Michael Bishop, Thomas Milstead, and Andrew Bishop all went down on strikes to end the game, and Pelham’s supremacy over in-state competition. Senior Austin Dubberly was 3 for 3 on the night with a single, double, and run scored, but the lack of production from leadoff hitter Alvin Hines seemed to hurt the Panthers on this night. The Number One Panthers fell to 22 and 3 on the season. Their quest to a state championship continues Friday night as they make the return trip to Oak Mountain. I would like to add that this was the Panthers first loss against an in-state team, as their two losses have been from teams located in Madison, MS and Cordova, TN, each by a score of 1-0.

Sophomore Trevor Fitts took the loss for the Panthers, his first of the season. Austin Dubberly led the Panthers at the plate with three hits, and Michael Bishop had a homerun. Oak Mountain’s very emotional ace pitcher, Cary Baxter, struck out 12 and also paced the Eagles at the plate with a homerun to tie the game at three, which began the four run rally.

With the injury to Trae Santos’ elbow and the uncertainty of how long he will be out look for Junior Michael Bishop to take the mound for the Panthers. Alvin Hines, Austin Dubberly, Michael Bishop, and Andrew Bishop will need to pace the Panthers in order to avenge a victory over the highly emotional Eagles this Friday night.