by Steve Bradley
The Panther baseball team, ranked 6th in sectional seeding, traveled to Amsterdam last Saturday to take on the number 2 seed Rensselaer Rams at Shuttleworth Stadium. Although it took a bit for the team get going, the boys ended the game with a big win, 17 – 1.
[private]Going into the fourth inning in a 1 -1 game, both teams looked evenly matched. But the Panthers gave a hint of things to come as they scored two runs in the inning. Then they scored in every inning after, including ten runs in the fifth. The Panthers were in total control. It looked like a team on its way on its way to a championship game. And they are.
Alex Lilac led the offense with three doubles and a single. Billy Pine pitched five innings for the win with Tanner Williams coming in to finish it off.
The Panther team will now play in the Section II championship game for the first time since 2002. The game will be held at Joe Bruno Stadium on the Hudson Valley Community College campus. Game time is 4 pm Thursday, May 31. This stadium is home to the Tri-City Valley Cats baseball team and is a fantastic venue to watch a baseball game. The grounds are meticulously kept; the grass is mowed just so, and the color scoreboard with instant replay lets you know what is going on. It will be a thrill for the team to play there.
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