The Mountain Grove Panthers are one step closer to claiming a conference championship.
Following a 10-0 win against the Cabool Bulldogs in five innings Monday night, the Panthers are now 6-0 in the SCA.
The Panthers were quick to warm up at the plate, jumping out to a two run lead in the first inning thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles from Brock Coffman and Blaine Halford. Conner McNew picked up an RBI on a sac fly in the second and Halford added another RBI to bring the Panthers to a 4-0 lead.
Halford was clutch again in the fourth with a two RBI single, followed by a DJ McNew two RBI single. Halford knocked in an RBI single to plate one in the fifth, and an RBI sac by Hayden Newberry resulted in a play at the plate, scoring Cade Coffman to end the game in a run-rule win for Mtn. Grove.
“We were hitting the ball well up and down the lineup, kind of like we’ve been doing,” said Mountain Grove head coach Derwin McGownd, “putting the ball into play and not trying to overdo things, executing on sacrifice flies, moving runners along, bunts, situations, and things like that. I thought we executed real well today.”
Cabool head coach Brady Dean agreed. “They’re a very good hitting team,” he said. “There’s nothing we can really answer to when they step up and hit the ball like they did tonight. Nine hits and 10 runs scored is hard to answer unless you’re hitting the ball as well.”
Brock Coffman reached base three times for the Panthers, and Cade Coffman scored on each of his three times at bat. No Grove batter struck out on the night.
“It was a great job by Austin Williams on the mound,” said Coach McGownd. “That’s his first varsity start. He’s had a few varsity innings in relief, but this was his first start, and I thought he did an outstanding job doing what we needed him to do to give the rest of our pitching staff some rest.”
Williams struck out nine batters on the night.
“They all did a great job of doing what they needed to do to win that ballgame,” said Coach McGownd of the team victory.
Coach Dean praised each of his players who did get a hit off Williams: Austin Hunter, Dylan Hardy, and Logan Stillwell. The Bulldogs continue conference play in Thayer tomorrow, hoping to improve on their 7-11 record.
The Panthers have a tough week against Rogersville and Norwood, then face their final match-up to determine the SCA conference championship against Mountain View next week. Their current record is 14-3.
Cabool 0 0 0 0 0
Mtn. Grove 2 2 0 4 2
