The struggles continued for the NRHEG baseball team, which lost three games in recent play.
First-year head coach Drew Paukert’s Panthers ran their record to 5-9 overall and 4-6 in the Gopher Conference as section tournament play nears.
WEM 9, NRHEG 0
The Panthers had trouble putting anything together against Bucs pitcher Dallas McBroom, who allowed only three hits in six innings at Waterville Monday, May 4.
The home team took control early, scoring twice in the bottom of the first and never looking back. The Panthers’ hits went to Trevor Tracy, John Hubly and Grant Kyllo.
Matt Jensen was the losing pitcher. He allowed seven earned runs on eight hits, with five strikeouts and three walks.
A day after collecting a season-low three hits, the Panthers were held to four while dropping a nonconference game to Kenyon-Wanamingo at Legion Field in New Richland Tuesday, May 5.
NRHEG spotted KW three runs in the first inning on only two hits. KW blew the game open in the third, scoring seven runs on four hits, and ended it by the 10-run rule after five innings.
KW’s starter got out of a bases-loaded jam with one out only giving up one run. NRHEG got its No. 8 and 9 hitters on to start the bottom of the fifth, but were unable to get the ball out of the infield to score.
Tracy was the losing pitcher, allowing four earned runs on six hits, with one strikeout and two walks. NRHEG had seven fielding errors.
Panthers with hits were Hubly, Dakota Thiele, Palmer Peterson and Cole Staloch.
Maple River 10, NRHEG 9
The Panthers took a tough one at Mapleton Thursday, May 7.
Maple River took the lead with three runs in the first. NRHEG retook the lead in the top of the fourth scoring five runs, led by a two-RBI double by Thiele and a two-run single by Hubly. Maple River responded with three of its own to tie the game in the bottom half. NRHEG scored a run apiece in the fifth, sixth and seventh, however, Maple River answered in the fifth and six.
Hubly was 2-for-2, Peterson 2-for-4 with a double, Peterson 2-for-4, Trai Wicks 1-for-3 with a double, Thiele 1-for-4.
Jensen took the loss. He gave up one earned run on two hits, with one strikeout and two walks.
PACT Charter 8, NRHEG 4
The Panthers hosted PACT Charter School of Ramsey and dropped a nonconference decision in the top of the seventh at Legion Field Saturday, May 9, running their losing skid to seven. It was back and fourth throughout. PACT Charter took a 1-0 lead on no hits in the first. NRHEG responded with an RBI triple by Hubly to tie it The teams exchanged runs in innings. 3-5 PACT Charter started with a leadoff walk to the No. 9 hitter in the seventh, which sparked a five-run half inning off of three hits. NRHEG manged to plate one in the home half of the seventh to make it 8-4.
Tracy went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Adding one hit each were Thiele, Hubly, Staloch and Peterson.
Dempsey Tucker started and pitched into the seventh for the Panthers, allowing three earned runs on four hits, with five strikeouts and five walks.