Grundy R-5 Places Fourth In State Tournament

Oct 2, 2006 | Softball, Sports & Recreation

The Panthers won their first two contests, then lost to Jefferson in the semifinals and Ridgeway in the third-place game.
Grundy R-5 dominated Stet in the first-round game, 13-3. Logan Jackson allowed just one hit in five innings of work. He struck out three and walked four.
Stet led after the first inning, 1-0. Stet scored again in the top of the second inning, making the score, 2-0. The Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead.
Grundy R-5 scored five runs in the bottom third, then scored five more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Jackson helped himself out with three hits and two RBIs. Cody Brown had two hits and three runs scored. Bryce Rains had two hits, including a home run, and three runs scored. Kabel Oaks added a pair of hits and three RBIs.
Grundy R-5 scored single runs in each of the first four innings of the second game. Tina-Avalon scored a run in the first inning, but never plated another run, losing, 4-1.
Jackson again allowed one run while striking out five and walking three. He scattered four hits through seven innings of work. Nick Lentz had four hits, including a double and two runs scored. Kyle Larson had three hits and two RBIs.
The Panthers faced powerhouse Jefferson in the semifinals. Grundy R-5 held eventual state-titlist Jefferson in check for most of the contest, allowing a run in the bottom of the third inning and in the bottom of the sixth inning. Grundy R-5 ended up on the losing end, 2-0.
“A super game against the eventual state champion,” Head Coach Les Jackson said. “We could never really get the bats going.”
Jackson allowed two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out three batters.
Lentz, Rob Crawford and Kyle Larson each had a single. Jackson added a double.
Grundy R-5 lost to Ridgeway in the third-place game, 2-1. Ridgeway scored one in the bottom of the first inning. The Panthers tied the game in the top of the third inning, only to see the Owls come back with the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Both of Ridgeway’s runs were unearned. Jackson allowed five hits and struck out one batter while not surrendering a walk.
Grundy R-5 lost a pair of baserunners in the early going when they were thrown out at the plate.
“Poor base running hurt us early as two runners were thrown out at home plate,” Jackson said. “Another runner was thrown out at third base. We just never could put hits together, but it was still a good effort.”
Lentz and Brown each had a triple. Colby Searcy had a hit and an RBI.
“Overall, I am really proud of the boys’ play. They gave up only eight runs in four games,” Jackson said. “The offense struggled the last two games, but the boys battled all weekend.”
The Panthers end the season with an 11-5 overall record.