TRAC-8 Race Tightens for Panthers
May 02, 2006
The Prophetstown-Erie varsity baseball team recently concluded a tough week in the Three Rivers Conference and extended their winning streak to five games. After a 17-6 victory at Kewanee on Saturday, April 29th, the Panthers stand at 17-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play. The Panthers have posted a 6-2 mark in their last eight games. Wins during that stretch include: Bureau Valley 9-7, Amboy 7-2, Morrison 11-7, Newman 6-2, Amboy 12-0 and Kewanee. The two losses came against Fulton 8-6 and Riverdale 5-4.
On April 24th , the Morrison Mustangs visited Prophetstown for a key conference match up. The Panthers were coming off two straight conference defeats and needed a win to stay in the race. The two teams combined for twenty-eight hits and eighteen runs. Cody Sigel ( 3-1) surrendered seven runs on thirteen hits while striking out five and walking six. Alex Bond ( 3-2) picked up the win on the mound. He pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to secure the 11-7 home victory.
At the plate, Alex Bond helped himself with a 3-4 effort, including a home run and four runs batted in. Andrew Toppert also contributed three hits and an RBI. Jesse Frohling stepped up big with three hits and three RBIs. Simon Moore added two hits and Nick Zigler and Cody Westerlund each chipped in a hit each.
Coach Orman added, � Alex Bond and Andrew Toppert continue to show their senior leadership on the field. I was also very pleased with the contribution we got out of Jesse Frohling in the seven spot.�
On Thursday, April 27th, the Panthers visited the Newman Comets in another important conference match up. The result was a hard fought 6-2 win. Simon Moore (4-2) led the way on the mound for the Panthers. He gave up two runs and seven hits, while striking out four and walking none.
At the plate, the Panthers were led by Alex Bond�s three hit, two RBI effort. Simon Moore and Steven Kronfeld added two hits each. Ryan Slocum, Nick Zigler, Jesse Frohling and Greg Pons each contributed one hit each.
Prophetstown-Erie broke the game open in the fifth inning with the score tied 2-2. Ryan Slocum led off the inning by reaching on an error. Nick Zigler followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Slocum to second base. Alex Bond followed with a walk and Simon Moore managed a base hit two batters later to score Slocum. Bond then scored on an error and Jordon Schaver scored the third run of the inning on a passed ball. The Panthers pushed one more run across in the sixth inning to make the score 6-2.
Coach Orman added, � Simon Moore pitched well once he settled down and we did just enough offensively to secure the win.�
On Friday, April 28th, the Panthers traveled to Amboy and came home with a 12-0 victory in five innings. A four run first inning and a sixth run third was all the Panthers needed behind the pitching of Andrew Toppert ( 5-1).
Toppert pitched five strong innings, surrendering only two hits while striking out eleven and walking two. � Andrew was elevating the fast ball and the Amboy hitters could not lay off it, � Orman added.
Offensively, Simon Moore led a twelve hit attack with a three hits, three runs scored and two RBI. Andrew Toppert continued a strong season with two hits and two RBI. Ryan Slocum, Nick Zigler, Alex Bond, Greg Pons, Steven Kronfeld, Cody Sigel and Cody Westerlund each chipped in a hit each.
Alex Bond and Simon Moore each had RBI singles in the first inning to put the Panthers up 4-0. Moore and Sigel also had RBI singles in the third inning and the Panthers took advantage of two Clipper errors to score move the score to 10-0. The scoring was capped off in the fourth inning with two fielder�s choices that plated two runs.
On Saturday, April 29th, the Panthers traveled to Kewanee to take on the Boilers for a third time this season. The result was a 17-6 victory. Prophetstown-Erie broke a 5-2 wide open by scoring six runs in the sixth and six more in the seventh inning.
Alex Bond (3-2) earned the win on the mound in seven innings of work. He surrendered six runs on four hits while strking out eight and walking two. �Alex is capable of keeping any team off balance if he keeps his off speed down. He did that today.�
At the plate, the Panthers were led by Andrew Toppert. He recorded two hits and three runs scored in five at bats. Jesse Frohling and Cole Young each had big two run singles in the fourth and seventh innings. Jordon Schaver also had a nice game with two hits and two runs scored. Steven Kronfeld caught a nice game and went 2-5 at the plate. Greg Pons was strong in the led off spot with two hits and one RBI. Cody Westerlund and Alex Bond also contributed a hit a piece.
Orman added, �We have a soild team from top to bottom. The entire line-up hit the ball today.�
Below, The Panthers shake hands with the Morrison Mustangs after beating them 11-7 April 24.
