May 29, 2012

Pittsville– The top-seeded Pittsville Panthers opened up the 2012 playoffs with a win over Alma Center-Lincoln Tuesday night in Pittsville. Despite being the top seed, Pittsville needed every bit of effort to hold on to a 1-0 victory. While the Panthers looked flat offensively (collecting just three hits), they got excellent pitching from Chris Downs and solid defense all around the diamond.

The game started out exactly how one would expect when a top seed meets a team with a sub .500 record. Downs retired the first three Hornet hitters in order and then the bats got to work. A sacrifice fly from Jared Fox scored Downs in the first inning and the Panthers were off to a 1-0 start.

The Hornets posed their biggest threat of the game in the second inning. Jacob Esser led off the inning with a solid base hit and would advance into scoring position on a bunt from Chad Zimbauer. A base hit from Josh Farnesworth and a hit batter later and Downs was in a jam. A disasterous inning was avoided however with a flyout to Ladick to strand the bases loaded.

Not to be outdone, Hornets pitcher Tim Pooler had an outstanding game in what would turn out to be the last of his high school career. The Panthers were unable to break the game open in the fifth inning, failing to score with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Pooler received the tough luck loss, going six innings striking out seven. The senior Downs struck out five hitters in the win.

Pittsville will play Wednesday at home against Cochrane-Fountain City in the second round of the playoffs.

(Alma Center)Lincoln at Pittsville
May 29 2012 at Riverside Park

Lincoln

Player Name                AB  R   H  RBI  BB  SO  PO  A  LOB
Ian Jahn 1b…………… 3   0   0   0   0   1   3   0   1
Sam Farnsworth 3b……… 3   0   0   0   0   0   1   2   0
Tim Pooler p………….. 3   0   0   0   0   2   0   0   0
Jacob Esser c…………. 3   0   2   0   0   0   9   1   0
Chad Zimbauer 2b………. 2   0   0   0   0   0   2   0   0
Simeon Pooler ss………. 3   0   1   0   0   1   1   3   0
Josh Farnsworth cf…….. 3   0   1   0   0   0   1   0   0
Trent Kyser rf………… 1   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0
JJ Manthey-Lamon lf……. 2   0   1   0   0   0   1   0   3
Total   ……………… 23  0   5   0   0   5   18  6   4

Pittsville

Player Name                AB  R   H  RBI  BB  SO  PO  A  LOB
Chris Downs p…………. 2   1   0   0   1   0   2   1   0
Sawyer Ladick cf………. 2   0   1   0   1   0   3   1   1
Andy Fox c……………. 3   0   1   0   0   0   5   1   0
Jared Fox ss………….. 2   0   0   1   0   0   1   3   0
Nathan Dupee lf……….. 3   0   0   0   0   0   1   0   3
Austin John rf………… 2   0   0   0   1   2   0   0   0
Olie Voight 1b………… 3   0   0   0   0   3   9   1   3
Thomas Hughes dh………. 3   0   1   0   0   2   0   0   0
Brad Wesely 2b………… 1   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0
Adam Sturgis   ……….. 0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0
Total   ……………… 21  1   3   1   3   7   21  9   7

Score by Innings    1  2  3  4  5  6  7     R  H  E
—————————————————
Lincoln             0  0  0  0  0  0  0  -  0  5  1
Pittsville          1  0  0  0  0  0  0  -  1  3  0
—————————————————

E - Chad Zimbauer,
DP -  Pittsville  2, LOB - Lincoln  4, Pittsville  7
2B - Thomas Hughes,
SB - Chris Downs, Nathan Dupee,
CS - Simeon Pooler,
HBP - Trent Kyser, Brad Wesely,

Lincoln             IP   H   R   ER  BB  SO  AB  BF
Tim Pooler………. 6    3   1   0   3   7   21  26

Pittsville           IP   H   R   ER  BB  SO  AB  BF
Chris Downs……… 7    5   0   0   0   5   23  25

Win - Chris Downs.  Loss - Tim Pooler.

Pittsville 16-6-1