Big Sticks In 5th Inning Propels Panthers 5-1
POTOMAC FALLS, VA - In the Quarter-Final District game at Potomac Falls, the Panthers used a 4 run 5th inning to break a 1-1 tie with Freedom to advance to the Semi-Finals Tuesday against Dominion, who was a 9-8 winner over Park View on Friday.
Taylor Jernigan and Anthony Perez were locked in a pitchers duel after Jernigan replaced Michael Detaranto in the 2nd inning. Through the first 4 innings, Perez and Jernigan each cruised giving up only 3 hits apiece. Potomac Falls managed to squeak out a run in the 2nd inning when Mike Spring walked and was advanced to 3rd on Ryan Miller's single to right. Spring was then thrown out at the plate on an attempted double steal. Matt Murphy made the throw to second but Brad Baker cut the throw off and nailed Spring at the plate. Miller advanced to 2nd on the play and then scored when Matt Hoover hit an RBI single to left field.
The Eagles tied the game in the 5th inning. After Joe Plesce reached on a fielder's choice, he advanced to 2nd on a passed ball and scored on Jeremy Rilko's single to center. The Panthers then scored 4 runs in their half of the 5th. Ben Sweger led off with a walk and was sacrificed to 2nd by Ryan Mahoney. Rob Malan then hit a single to left to score Sweger. Malan promptly stole second before an intentional walk was issued to Spring. Ryan Miller advanced the runners on a ground out. With 2 outs and the runners at 2nd and 3rd, Matt Rubino hit a drive down the first base line. Kyle Severns made an outstanding dive to his left to knock the ball down. As he got up, Rubino was racing to the bag and slide into first just before Severn's could get there. On the play, both runners scored to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead. Matt Hoover then reached on an error moving Rubino to 3rd. Freedom's catcher Matt Murphy then attempted a pick off throw to 1st that went wild and Rubino trotted home for the final run of the inning.
With the score 5-1, the Eagles loaded the bases in the 6th with no outs with an infield error, a walk and a single by Dustin McIntosh. At this point, Jernigan was lifted in favor of Freshmen Jackson Rogers, a call up from the J.V. team. With the bases loaded and no outs, Rogers got Matt Malacane to ground to Rubino at 3rd who threw to get the force at the plate. He then proceeded to strikeout Kyle Groome and Matt Murphy to end the threat and the inning. In the 7th, Rogers struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced to end the Eagles season.
The Panthers will now face Dominion for a 3rd time this season at Potomac Falls on Tuesday at 7:00. The Panthers defeated Dominion 2-1 and 4-2 in the regular season.
