Tucker throws three-hitter; Schultz infield single ends it
The only game of the week for the NRHEG High School baseball team was a good one.
Hosting a strong United South Central squad, the Panthers rallied for a walk-off 2-1 win in the bottom of the seventh inning on a cold Friday at the soon-to-be renamed Legion Field.
NRHEG senior Dempsey Tucker pitched his best varsity game of the season to date, trading zeros with the Rebels’ Ryan Kloos for six innings. Tucker had a no-hitter through three innings while Kloos allowed only a sharp single by Eli Lutgens the first time through the lineup.
“It was a great pitcher’s duel between Dempsey and Kloos,” said Panthers coach Drew Paukert. “Each did a nice job getting out of some tough spots and gave up a combined five hits.”
USC finally broke through in the top of the seventh, scoring what looked like the winning run.
But the Panthers rallied.
Palmer Peterson got on base to start the bottom of the seventh, stole second and scored on a long double to left center by Tucker. Lutgens was intentionally walked. After Trai Wicks advanced the baserunners, Sawyer VanMaldeghem was walked to load the bases.
Jack Schultz followed with the game winner, an infield single down the third base line.
Tucker finished with a three-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out six and walking two.
Kloos gave up two hits, fanning four and walking two.
The Panthers improved to 3-6 overall and 2-5 in the Gopher Conference.
“Overall, I was extremely pleased with the way the team competed,” said Paukert. “USC is a very good ball club, and it was nice to get a quality win against a quality team. Dempsey again was fantastic on the mound and at the plate. This was a big win for us moving forward, hopefully we can carry the momentum into next week.”