French Camp opened the baseball season with a couple of tough losses. The Panthers were defeated by Winona 21-18 (no, that's not a football score) and 5-4 by Calhoun City, despite being one inning away from winning both games.
The wild Winona game featured 20 walks by both teams and lasted four hour and 15 minutes, “an official record for me,” said French Camp coach Nathan Wright.
French Camp took a 10-8 lead with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Winona scored 13 runs in the top of the seventh, mostly due to walks. “We went through two pitchers in the seventh and neither one could find the strike zone,” Wright said.
French Camp had another eight-run inning in the bottom of the seventh but the rally fell short.
The Panthers took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh against Calhoun City, but surrendered the tying and winning runs. The first run scored when pitcher Rob Surrette picked up a bunt that he thought was foul because it was right on the baseline. “In baseball, when it’s on the line, it’s fair. It’s not like football. In football when you’re on the line, you’re out.” Wright said.
The next batter hit a grounder fielded by third baseman Ethan Wright. But the runner beat the throw home. “It was one of those plays that could have gone either way,” Wright said.
He said the Calhoun City game was a much better performance by the Panthers. “It was a much better played game.”
Ethan Wright had a single and double and drove home two runs for the Panthers. He also pitched the first three innings, allowing two hits, with seven strikeouts. He was relieved by Surrette after reaching 75 pitches.
“We knew pitching would be a weakness for us,” coach Wright said. “Hopefully by division time we will have four or five guys we can trust.”
The Panthers play at East Webster Thursday and have home games with Eupora Friday and Winona Saturday.
