Panthers finish NVL play unbeaten

The Maxwell High School baseball team completed an undefeated league season, but not without a little bit of competition from the visiting Hayfork Timberjacks on Friday.

The Timberjacks did not go down easy in the last doubleheader of the season as they fell by just two runs, 6-4, in the first outing and then lost 9-2 in the second game.

In the end, the Panthers got the timely hits when they needed them, along with a shut down pitching effort from freshman Steven Perry, to up their record to 25-3.

With the two wins, Maxwell clinches the top seed for the Division 5 playoffs, which begin Friday. The Panthers will likely host Bishop Quinn in the first round. Playoff seedings will be determined today.

The Panthers overcame a 3-1 deficit in the first game against Hayfork with four runs in the bottom of the second. Tyler Wells began the inning with a walk and Hunter Stillwell was hit by a pitch. Brian Hamner loaded the bases with a bunt single and Gustavo Rangel brought home Wells with a sacrifice fly to left field.

After a bunt by Jarrett Ottenwalter moved the runners over, Perry doubled in two runs. Perry later scored on an error by the pitcher.

The Panthers added a run later on an RBI double by James Bowen. Mitchell Barsotti also had an RBI double in the first inning.

Gustavo Rangel got the pitching win, giving up four runs on six hits.

In the second game, Maxwell broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Stillwell had an RBI single, Rangel doubled home a run, Bowen had a ground rule double and Perry added an RBI single to account for the runs.

Perry also had an RBI double in the third inning while Andy Yang doubled and scored for one of Maxwell’s runs in the first frame.

Perry relieved Stillwell in the fourth inning and went the final four frames for the win. He struck out six and walked just one while giving up no runs on one hit.