T.Orman
Senior Andrew Toppert pitches for E-P against the Mustangs March 30 at Morrison. The Panthers won 6-2.April 3rd Update on Panther Baseball
May 02, 2006
Panthers move to 3-1 in TRAC-8
The Prophetstown-Erie varsity baseball team opened conference play with wins over Morrison 6-2, Newman Central Catholic 13-3 and Amboy 10-7. The victories move the Panther’s record to 11-5 overall and 3-1 in the TRAC-8. Other wins this season came against Galva ( 12-0 ), Kewanee ( 18-3 ) and ( 18-13 ), Ashton-Franklin Center ( 4-1 ), Orion ( 11-4 ), Peru St. Bede ( 16-13 ) and Wethersfield ( 7-5 ) and ( 6-4 ).The five losses this season came against Rock Falls, Dakota, Ottawa Marquette, Riverdale and Stark County.
In the conference opener, the Panthers earned a hard fought 6-2 victory at Morrison. Andrew Toppert (3-0) went the distance on the mound, surrendering two runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking none. Toppert also went 1-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Ryan Slocum was once again strong in the leadoff spot with three hits and one run scored. Cody Sigel gave the Panthers the cushion they needed in the top of the seventh inning with a two run double, scoring Ryan Slocum and Andrew Toppert. Greg Pons and Cody Westerlund each added two hits each. Jesse Frohling and Nick Zigler also contributed one hit each to top off a twelve hit attack against Morrison ace Ryan Schisler.
On April 6th, the Panthers entertained Newman Central Catholic. A strong offensive attack and strong pitching was all the Panthers needed in route to a 13-3 victory. Andrew Toppert once again came up big on the mound by throwing five strong innings. He surrendered one earned run on three hits, striking out six and walking one.
The offensive outbursts came in the first and fifth innings behind two grand slams, one by Alex Bond in the first inning and one by Jesse Frohling in the fifth. Alex Bond finished the game with two hits, including a double and a home run and five RBIs. Jesse Frohling went 1-3 at the plate with a home run and four RBIs. The top of the order did their part by scoring eight of the teams thirteen runs. Ryan slocum went 1-3 with one run scored, Nick Zigler went 1-3 with two runs scored and Andrew Toppert went 1-3 with three runs scored. Cody Sigel also chipped in one hit and two runs scored. Simon Moore had a hit and two RBIs. Jesse Frohling, Greg Pons and Cody Westerlund each had one hit each to round out an excellence team hitting effort.
On April 10th, the Prophetstown-Erie Panthers hosted a strong Amboy Clipper squad and came out on top 10-7. Cody Sigel (3-1) picked up the win on the mound. Sigel threw 5 1/3 innings , surrendering five runs on only four hits. He also struck out seven and walked three. The offensive for the Clippers came in the four inning on a three run home run and in the sixth on a two run home run. Amboy also tacked on two more in the seventh inning on a two run home run against reliever Andrew Toppert. Toppert ended up earning the save in 1 2/3 innings of work. He gave up four hits, struck out four and walked one.
The offensive attack was lead by Jesse Frohling’s 3-3 effort at the plate. Frohling ended the game with two singles, a home run, two runs scored and one RBI. Nick Zigler continued his hot streak at the plate with a two hit, 1 RBI night. Andrew Toppert added two hits, including a home run in the first inning, and two runs scored. Cody Westerlund once again stayed hot in the bottom of the order, chipping in two hits and two runs scored. Ryan Slocum, Greg Pons and Alex Bond also contributed one hit each. Most of the scoring for the came in the fifth inning. The Panthers took advantage of six Amboy errors to score seven runs to break a 3-3 tie.
On April 3rd, the Panthers hosted a strong Riverdale Ram team. Riverdale scored seven early runs and never looked back. They were backed by a strong pitching effort by Chase Schroeder, who also helped himself at the plate with a two run home run in the fourth inning. Simon Moore (2-2) took the loss on the mound. He surrendered seven runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Cody Sigel pitched two innings in relief. He gave up only one hit while striking out four.
At the plate, the Panthers were paced by Ryan Slocum’s two hit effort. Greg Pons continued his excellent season at the plate with a 2-3 night. Simon Moore, Andrew Toppert, Alex Bond and Cody Westerlund each contributed one hit each.
