By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The NRHEG baseball team does not have much experience at the varsity level this spring, and it showed in the season opener.
The Panthers hosted United South Central and lost 8-1 at New Richland’s Legion Field last Thursday.
USC, one of the Gopher Conference favorites, jumped on top early with three runs in the first inning and two more in the third.
The Panthers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, when Dakota Thiele scored on an error after reaching on a fielder’s choice. NRHEG had five hits, one each by Thiele, Trevor Tracy, Dillon Kubiatowicz, Jet Wayne and Grant Kyllo.
Sophomore Dempsey Tucker started on the mound for the Panthers, giving up eight runs in five innings. Trevor Tracy pitched two scoreless innings. They combined for eight strikeouts and three walks, allowing 10 hits. Seven of USC’s runs were earned.
Taylor Stenzel led the Rebels, earning the pitching win while hitting a two-run home run.
“Defensively, we were O.K., but we didn't hit the ball very well and they did,” said Panthers coach Pat Churchill. “We had a couple of innings where we got two runners on but couldn't get the big hits to get any runs across.”
