BHS regroups, wins 3
Published 5:00 am Monday, March 9, 2009
Regrouping after a disappointing Tuesday night loss at ForestHill, the Brookhaven Panthers came back with a vengeance Fridaynight on Moyer Field. They whipped the Patriots 17-0 and 24-9 inDivision 6-4A baseball action.
On Saturday, the Panthers made a short ride to North Pike andescaped Summit with an 8-5 victory over the Jaguars in extrainnings.
Coach Randy Spring’s Panthers climbed to 9-3 overall and standat 5-1 in the Division 6-4A race.
Brookhaven hosts Lawrence County Tuesday for a division showdownon Moyer Field. The junior varsity game starts at 5 p.m., followedby the varsity at 7.
Lawrence County will host Ole Brook for a varsity doubleheaderFriday, starting at 5 p.m., at Jimmie Davis Park in Monticello.
Brook 8, North Pike 5
The Panthers overcame a 5-2, second-inning deficit to beat theJaguars on their home turf. A 3-run, eighth-inning eruption brokethe 5-5 deadlock.
BHS shortstop Gabe Wilson hit a solo homer in the fifth toignite the Panthers. “That homer got us going,” said Coach Spring.”It was a good win for us.”
Bud Britt hit a solo homer to right in the seventh, to tie thescore.
Launching a 3-run rally, Elliott McKee led off the eighth with asingle and went to second on a wild pitch. Jarvis Wilbert slappedan RBI double for a 6-5 BHS lead. Britt grounded out and NickHelmstetter received an intentional walk. Zach Halliwell was hit bya pitch to load the bases. Isaac Jones went down swinging for thesecond out. Wilson then delivered a 2-RBI single
Sophomore pitcher J.D. Britt (5 K, 1 BB) went the final 5innings and got the win. He held the Jaguars scoreless on 3hits.
Michael Robinson homered for the Jaguars.
Brook 17, Forest Hill 0
A 12-run, second-inning highlighted Brook’s rampage in theopener.
Senior Nick Helmstetter struck out 6 batters and walked 1 in 3innings of mound duty, holding the Patriots hitless. PatrickValentine (1 K, 1 BB) allowed 1 hit in 2 innings of solidrelief.
Wilson slapped 2 doubles for the Panthers. Centerfielder ElliottMcKee and catcher Nick Peavey both had 2 hits in the win.
Brook 24, Forest Hill 9
Centerfielder Elliott McKee had 3 hits for the Panthers.Helmstetter started at first base and got 3 hits. Catcher NickPeavey and rightfielder Chris Seals each had 2 hits.
Halliwell started on the mound and was replaced by Valentine whoallowed 1 earned run and 5 hits. He fanned 5 batters and walked 2in his first victory.
“Forest Hill made some mistakes and they walked us a lot so wehad opportunities to score,” said Coach Spring. “Patrick Valentinepitched some great innings. In the second game, he came in andthrew strikes. We were able to rest Helmstetter and keep his pitchcount low so we have him for Lawrence County.
“It was a sloppy game but we took care of business,” Springadded
At the plate, McKee and Helmstetter collected 2 hits apiece.Jarvis Wilbert tripled.
Edmond Cheatham, who beat the Panthers 6-4 with a 4-hit moundperformance Tuesday night, had 3 hits for the Patriots.