French Camp scored two runs in the ninth inning for a 6-5 victory over Eupora. In two other games last week, the Panthers were beaten by Pisgah 14-10 and defeated Grace Christian 21-6.
The Eupora game went into extra innings after the Eagles scored a run in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-4 tie. Following a scoreless eighth, Phillip Lucas delivered the big hit for French Camp in the ninth, a two-run double into the right centerfield gap. Eupora managed one run in the bottom of the ninth.
Lucas went 3-5 in the game, drove in three runs, scored once, and pitched five innings, striking out eight while allowing three hits. Jaren Holmes and Seth Box each had two hits and an RBI and Colby Walters doubled.
French Camp led Pisgah 9-5 before the Dragons scored six runs in the fifth. “We had a really bad inning. We made three straight errors,” said coach Nathan Wright.
The Panthers had 13 hits, led by Bradley Edwards and Holman Edwards with three each and Box and Lucas with two each.
French Camp had no trouble against Grace Christian, scoring 10 runs in the first inning, three in the second and eight more in the third, when the game came to an end. The Panthers' 16 hits included three each by Box, Zach Gilmer and Jarren Holmes. Cody Perry had a single, double and walk, drove in three runs and scored twice.
“We have several guys who are swinging the bat well and I'm really pleased with some of our pitchers,” Wright said. He cited Holman Edwards and Lucas for their hitting and pitching. “Those two guys are standing out.”
The Panthers played Nanih Waiya, the two-time defending 1A state champion, Tuesday and will be at Nanih Waiya Friday.
