By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
According to NRHEG baseball coach Shawn Larson, it was defense that set the tone in Monday's home game against JWP.
Everything else fell into place.
The Panthers played one of their best all-around games of the season while winning 9-2 at Jeff and Carol Reese Field.
"This was one of those games where almost everything goes the way it should," said Larson. "It started with the defense, and we just seemed to flow into the offense as well."
Sophomore Deven Parpart pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked three.
Alden Dobberstein had another great day at the plate, starting with a first-inning RBI and finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Sophomore Wyatt Larson and freshman Brooks Gilliland also had good showings. They were each 2-for-3.
The late innings proved to be the difference at Hayfield last Thursday.
The Panthers led 2-1 and it was 2-2 after four innings, but the Vikings put it out of reach with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth.
"This was a good back-and-forth game today," said Coach Larson, whose team stranded just three baserunners but had some blunders on the base paths.
"We made several mistakes on the bases today," said the coach "That most likely was the biggest indicator of why we lost today. Hopefully, we keep making improvements in our awareness of in-game situations. If we can make those improvements along with striking out less, we have a chance in most games. Jace Ihrke continued to hit well with two hits in the game. Jordan Brouwers also had two hits."
Parpart was 2-for-3 with a run. Dobberstein had one hit, a double. Brouwers also doubled. RBIs went to Ihrke and Carter Martens.
The Panthers drew two walks and struck out nine times. They had four fielding errors, Hayfield two.
Freshman left-hander Jared Lee started on the mound for the Panthers and pitched four innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. Martens went the next two innings and took the loss, giving up three earned runs on two hits. He fanned three and walked four.
The Panthers are in action Thursday, May 2 at Kenyon-Wanamingo.