BURTON PANTHERS TAKE GAME ONE OVER THORNDALE 7-2

The Burton Panthers erased the ghosts of years past with a 7-2 victory over Thorndale last (Thursday) night in Mumford.

Chet Fritsch got the win going all seven innings giving up two runs, only one was earned, four hits, three walks, two hit batters, and struck out 12.

Thorndale, who knocked the Panthers out of the playoffs the last two years in a row, got on the board with a run in the top of the first to make it 1-0. However, it would not be deja vu all over again, as Burton scored three runs in the bottom of the inning. Pierson Spies drew a one out walk, and stole second. Kaiden Kalkhake singled him home with the tying run. Colby Beck followed with an RBI double that scored Kalkhake to put Burton ahead 2-1. Carson Lauter capped off the inning with an RBI single to score Beck and make it 3-1 Panthers.

Thorndale picked up a run in the second inning to cut the lead to 3-2. That would be the last time they would score.

In the third inning, Burton tacked on some insurance runs. Kalkhake and Colby Beck drew back-to-back walks. Lauter singled home Kalkhake, and then Ryder Biggs singled home Beck to put the Panthers up by a score of 5-2.

Burton added another run in the fourth inning as Fritsch reached on an error, and then came around to score on an RBI single by Kalkhake. They would get one final run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Kalkhake hit a two-out single, and then scored on an RBI triple by Beck to make it 7-2 Panthers.

Fritsch would retire the last three batters he faced, including striking out the final hitter to seal the win.

Burton leads the series 1-0. Game Two will be tonight (Friday) at 7pm. KWHI will have live coverage beginning with the pregame at 6:30pm.

If the Panthers win, they will move on to the Region Quarterfinals against the winner of the Iola-Johnson City series. If Thorndale wins, they will have to come back on Saturday and play one more winner-take-all game at 2pm in Mumford.

HITTING

Vicente Veliz 0-3 walk

Pierson Spies 0-3 walk, run

Chet Fritsch 0-4 error, run

Kaiden Kalkhake 3-3 three singles, walk, three runs scored, two RBIs

Colby Beck 2-2 double, triple, two walks, two runs scored, two RBIs

Carson Lauter 3-4 three singles, two RBIs

Bryson Biggs 0-3 Fielder's Choice

Ryder Biggs 1-2 single, walk, RBI

Eli Simank 0-2 walk