Fall River ends Maxwell streak

The Maxwell Panthers are quickly finding out that the Fall River Bulldogs are not the team you want to invite when holding a party.

In November, the Bulldogs ended the Panthers’ undefeated football season and a chance to win a second straight section title with a win in the Division 5 championship game.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs did it to the Panthers again, shutting down the Panther offense to claim a 6-3 win in the Division 5 baseball championships and end Maxwell’s run of consecutive section title wins at three in a row.

The Bulldogs were able to end Maxwell’s streak thanks to the pitching of Brad Kyle and Garrett Barnett, who combined to give up just two hits on the day. Although the Panthers had more baserunners than the Bulldogs, they were unable to bring them home with the crucial basehit.

Meanwhile the Bulldogs got the one big hit they needed in the fourth inning.

Fall River led 1-0 heading into the fourth frame on a single by Kyle and a sacrifice fly. The Bulldogs added a second run when Barnett walked with the bases loaded in the fourth, which prompted Maxwell coach Eric Lay to replace starter Steven Perry with senior Gustavo Rangel.

Rangel’s only misstep in his three and two-thirds innings on the mound was a pitch to Mitch Pena, who blasted the offering over the centerfield fence for a grand slam home run and a 6-0 lead.

Rangel was solid the rest of the way, however, giving up just one hit and a walk while striking out six.

Despite the 6-0 deficit, the Panthers had their chances to get back into the game.

In the fifth, Hunter Stillwell reached base on an error and Perry walked. A strikeout and catch of Brian Hamner’s line drive to third base gave Fall River two outs with Mitchell Barsotti coming to the plate.

In almost a carbon copy of Pena’s earlier homer, Barsotti hit one over the fence in the exact same location, cutting Fall River’s lead in half at 6-3.

Kyle walked the next batter and was replaced by Barnett, who walked two batters of his own to put the tying run aboard. But a strikeout ended the threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers had another chance to get back into the game. Barnett threw 11 straight balls and walked the bases loaded with one out, but he struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Barnett then retired the side in the bottom of the seventh with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts, giving the Bulldogs the championship.