Eight-Run First Carries Surging Pine Crest

It has been a frustrating season for Pine Crest through most of 2014. Injuries have curtailed what looked to be a roster full of talent. A word to the wise, however, for the rest of 4A-14, don’t feel to bad for the Panthers. Pine Crest is getting healthy and hot at the right time, and that could prove dangerous when the district tournament rolls around in just over a week.

On Thursday afternoon, the Panthers’ bats broke out in a big way right from the start. They sent 11 batters to the plate in the opening inning, and by the time the frame was over, the Panthers had put up six hits and eight runs. They then held off a late Highlands Christian rally, and secured a 12-7 win.

“We knew we were going to see one of their better arms,” said Panthers Manager Ryan Shealy. “Our kids do a nice job of hitting fastballs. We got a few good fastballs to hit. Normally we hit a lot of home runs here, but what I was happy about today was that we were able to execute the approach, and hitting the ball on a line.”

The first inning began for Pine Crest with a lead-off double from Matt Rothenberg. Brady Acton followed with a double of his own, and the Panthers offense was off and running against Highlands starter Mitchell Carroll. Griffin Conine singled home Acton, and Chandler Cissel also singled.

After an out and a walk to Alex Perez to load the bases, Adam Saks drove in two runs with a base hit. After an error, Jordan Schulefand doubled in runs six and seven of the inning. Rothenberg then finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

“We knew the pitcher, and we had a good scouting report. We have some guys that have played on his team, and they said that we got to jump on him in the first inning if we are going to get to him,” said Conine, one of the offensive stars, with two hits on the day. “We wanted to just jump on fastballs. We know he has decent off-speed, and we didn’t want to let him get to those pitches.”

The Pine Crest offense did not sit on their lead, scoring again in the second, when a Perez single drove in Connine, who had doubled to open the inning.

In the third, Highlands finally got on the board when Quinsly Balentien hit a solo home run.

Acton answered that in the Panthers third with a solo shot of his own, extending the lead to 10-1.

Highlands showed some life in the fourth, scoring five times, and cutting the Pine Crest lead to 10-6. Wyatt Aycock, who came in for Carroll, singled, as did Ayrlon Barbolina. Kyle Bombardier, Sean Cronin, Kirvin Moesquit, Drexler Macaay, and Balentien also had singles in the inning.

“They started to show some life in the fourth because I basically told them either they were going to start having quality at-bats, or I was pulling them out of the game,” said Highlands Manager Bruce Charlebois.

Pine Crest extended the lead again in the fifth and sixth, with a run in each inning.

In the seventh, Balentien hit his second home run of the game, and reminding his coach of the potential he has in the middle of the lineup.

“He is a guy that if he would make a few adjustments, would likely be leading the county in home runs. That is the type of potential he has,” said Charlebois. “He has hit well for us all season. Hopefully he will get on a roll here down the stretch.”

The Balentien home run was all the Knights could muster in the seventh, as they fell for the third straight time.

Schulepand picked up the win for Pine Crest, going 3.2 innings. Garrett Rukes shut down the Knights in the middle innings, throwing 2.1 innings of shutout relief work. Saks cloed the game for the Panthers in the seventh.

In a district where the standings get shuffled on a daily basis, Pine Crest is getting hot and healthy at the right time, and that has the team believing they can be the ones emerging out of the district once playoff time begins.

“Early in the season when everyone was getting hurt, and we were losing some games, basically there was a feeling that the season was over,” said Acton. “But then we had a team meeting that lasted almost two hours. Our seniors talked to some of the younger players and gave them confidence, and from there we started to put it together. I still believe we are one of the most talented teams in the county.”

Indeed, they are, and on this Thursday afternoon, they showed why.

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