It wasn’t an easy opener for the NRHEG baseball team. But the Panthers kept it close.
The locals kicked off the season against one of the conference favorites, Faribault Academies, and fell 2-0 in a pitcher’s duel at Legion Field Monday, April 4.
Dempsey Tucker and Faribault’s Anthony VanThomme took turns putting goose eggs on the scoreboard, though the Panthers had baserunners and scoring chances in every inning. The visitors won it in the top of the seventh.
Tucker took the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. Jack Schultz pitched in relief in the seventh inning.
For the Panthers, Eli Lutgens was 2-for-2, Sam Prigge 2-for-4 with a double, Cole Staloch 2-for-4 and Schultz 1-for-1.
“Overall, I was pleased with the way we played for the first game,” said coach Drew Paukert. “We have been working hard defensively in practice, and we executed and gave our pitchers great support. Dempsey threw a great game. I was excited to see him work his way out of a few tough spots early in the game. We weren't able to string more than one or two hits together in one inning.”
