Extra Innings Needed To Decide Palmetto-Southridge Game

Seven innings just weren’t enough on Tuesday night. The Palmetto Panthers (5-2) and Southridge Spartans (2-4) went into extra innings, and they finished in the ninth with the Panthers celebrating a 5-2 victory.

Southridge took the lead in the fourth inning when they were able to string together three consecutive singles from Christian Khwam, Danny Matos and pinch-hitter Anthony Delofue. With the bases loaded and no outs, Matt Hernandez hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Khwam giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

However, Palmetto’s starting pitcher Brandon Kacer was able to pull himself out of the jam and struck out the following two hitters to end the inning with no further damage.

The Spartans added to their lead in the fifth. Catcher Pavel Chavez hit a two-out double and came around to score after an error by the Palmetto second baseman. Southridge claimed a 2-0 lead.

Kacer gave his team a good performance. He pitched six and one-third innings, struck out seven, and allowed only four hits and one earned run.

Palmetto had runners on base consistently the entire night but was unable to take advantage early on.

“The key to this game was a loss earlier this year when we had a 9-1 lead,” Palmetto head coach Danny Smith said. “These kids know the feeling and don’t ever want that to happen again, but it also showed us that we are never out of a game as long as we keep battling.”

Southridge’s starting pitcher Osvaldo Garcia continuously found a way to get himself out of innings without allowing the Panthers to get on the score board.

Garcia got help from his teammates and their great defense. Right-fielder Christian Khwam had a great play in the fifth to throw out a runner at home to end the inning. Khwam also had another huge play for the Spartans in the eighth when he was able to track down a hard-hit ball against the back fence in right field that prevented a big hit late in the game.

“Christian is only a junior, but he is a great defensive player and definitely one of our top guys,” added South Ridge coach Ed Doskow on Khwam’s great defensive efforts throughout the game.

The Panthers finally broke through in the sixth inning and tied the game at 2. William Schilling, Nick Greuner and Davis Marchus had consecutive hits that got the Panthers back in the game.

Pitching changes were made for both teams. South Ridge’s Nick Gensler and Palmetto’s Nick Greuner dominated and shut the hitters down.

It wasn’t until the ninth that the Panthers were able to rally for a few hits against Gensler. Schilling singled to right field to drive in the go-ahead run. Palmetto added two more runs to make the lead 5-2.

Greuner then took the mound for Palmetto in the bottom half of the inning and took the Spartans down 1-2-3.

“We are learning to shut the door and gaining confidence,” coach Smith said. “But Southridge is a great team that battles, and they are well coached.”

“The fans that came out and paid to watch this game saw a great high school baseball game for the money.” Doskow said. “I have to tip my hat off to them (Palmetto) as they were able to capitalize late in key situations, which was something we just weren’t able to do tonight.”

District 16-8A has not disappointed and has had an exciting game in every match-up so far. District games will continue on Thursday for both of these teams as Southridge will play Killian and Palmetto will take on the Coral Reef Barracudas.

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