Plant HS Outlasts Alonso HS in Extras 8-5

On Thursday (2/27) the Alonso HS Ravens hosted the Plant HS Panthers in an extra inning, back and forth contest that resulted in the visiting Panthers outlasting the Ravens 8-5. Both Alonso Ravens 2021 RHP Haile Daley and Plant Panthers 2021 RHP Brooks Bak pitched through their opposing lineups with ease through the first two innings of work, but began to feel the pressure of run scoring that broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third. 2021 C Ty Bitman barreled a line drive over the second baseman’s head to score two in the bottom of the third for the Alonso HS Ravens, which opened up our back and forth affair that would require extra innings to reach a conclusion.

Within the back-end half of the game, timely hitting was seen early and often from both sides. After Bitman’s 2 run single in the third, the Plant Panthers answered right back in the top of the 4th with a run and eventually taking the lead in the top of the 5th 3-2 behind Panthers 2021 3B Reece Soper’s shot down the left field line. With the Panthers now on top 4-2 entering the home half of the fifth, the Alonso Ravens 2021 OF/LHP Renzo Gonzalez answered with a well placed line drive through the right side of the Panthers defense to bring us even at 4 entering the 6th inning.

This set the stage for 2021 MIF Matt Ward’s missile to the left field fence that scored a runner from first in the top half of the sixth inning creating the next sequence of lead changes. Alonso HS would counter to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth at 5-5. With neither team scoring in the 7th,we took to extras with both teams churning through their respective bullpens in relief. 

In the top of 8th Panther’s 2020 C Reece Blanco faced a 2 strike, 2 out, bases loaded at-bat for which he sent a screaming shot down the left field line to bring home 2 and take the lead 7-5. The Panthers would tack on an additional insurance run to take things to the home half of the 8th where the Alonso HS Ravens looked to answer once again. As the Ravens brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 8th the Panther’s defense and relief pitching  stepped up to shut the door on the Ravens, bringing us our final of 8-5.

Standouts

Panthers: 2021 MIF Matt Ward
Uncommitted. Showed quick bat speed in the extra inning affair Thursday that sent a rocket to the left field wall and a standup double for Ward. Matt had quality at-bats throughout the night and is a solid defender. 

Ravens: 2021 OF/LHP Renzo Gonzalez
The Miami Baseball commit sent two singles through the right side of the infield and gathered 2 RBIs in the process Thursday night to keep the Raven’s in contention. Gonzalez has a powerful bat from the left side of the plate and his swing comes completely through the zone, finding the barrel often.