The Perry Panthers recognized it’s six seniors earlier this evening and then it was time to take on the Howard Huskies for the third and final time this season at the Panther Diamond. The Panthers jumped on the Huskies by plating five runs in the bottom half of the first inning and would later plate one in the third and one in the sixth en route to a 7-0 shutout victory over Howard.
Perry’s Ben McDow led the team in rbis with a three rbi double in the bottom half of the first followed by Christian Fletcher with two and Kam Vandersee with one (not all in the same inning). The Panthers used four pitchers who combined to allow no runs on no hits, walking three, and striking out 13 while the Huskies pitchers combined to allow seven runs (six earned) on four hits, walking eight, and striking out two.
Perry had four hits and committed one error while Howard had no hits and committed two errors. The Panthers finished their regular season at 24-6 overall; 15-3 in region play and will be the 2 seed out of region 2-AAAA while the Huskies fell to 8-16 overall; 6-12 in region play and failed to make the Playoffs.
Perry will host the 3 seed out of region 1-AAAA the Cairo Syrupmakers in the 1st Round of the AAAA State Playoffs for the second time in three years this upcoming Monday at 4pm.
The six seniors recognized on the Panthers Baseball team are as follows:
#1 Bradley Parrish
#3 Christian Fletcher
#4 Connor Griffin
#9 Lane Smith
#10 Ben McDow
#24 Cooper Edwards
Elsewhere; the Warner Robins Demons played their final game of 2023 at Jones Co and ended the season on a high note with a defensive 2-1 victory that ended on a 6-4-3 double play. Kam Lester and Chase Plank had both the Demons’ rbis with one each while Trent Paulk had the Greyhounds’ lone rbi of the game.
Warner Robins finishes 2023 at 9-18 overall; 5-13 in region play while Jones Co finishes it’s regular season at 8-22 overall; 8-10 in region Play and will travel to Columbia Co to take on Greenbrier in the 1st Round of the AAAAA Playoffs. Also, Chase Plank allowed one run (earned) on six hits, walking six, and striking out five in a complete game on the mound.
