by Ben Gaines
The Hoosick Falls Panthers finished pregame warm-ups on a sunny 87 degree Tuesday while the skies to the south were black from the severe thunderstorm that was pounding the Town of Petersburgh only a few miles away. The last meeting of the two teams was the first game of the 2013 season with Falls winning 7-2 with Josh Brogue pitching.
Billy Pine was on the mound for Falls in the first game of the Sectional season to give the Wildcats a new pitcher to figure out. In the second inning when the Wildcats’ Red players occupied all three bases from walks, Coach Mike Lilac called for time. Mike called in his infield and proceeded to tell Pine to “Pull it together.” Billy, #4, a senior, did just that by striking out the next two batters in 6 pitches to close the inning. In the third inning the Wildcats’ #2 batter up was up. With a full count he fouled a ball deep down the right field line where first baseman Cody Gaines caught the ball while sprinting, changing direction and staying on the field of play. Pine repaid the effort by striking out the next two batters to bring the Panthers into the shaded dugout from the sweltering heat.
Randy Tutunjian got the first hit for the Panthers. The fifth inning hit was shallow to right, and Tutunjian took second. Tyler Rondeau laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Tutunjian to third. John Curtis “JC” Whitman, a senior, got the second hit of the game for the Panthers with a grounder, that got by the shortstop, scoring Tutunjian.
The Wildcats had two more innings to score, but the Panthers had other plans. Billy and the catcher, Logan Brogue, a senior, did all the work in the 6th inning with three strikeouts. In the 7th Cody Gaines stopped a grounder from leaving the infield and tossed to Pine who was sprinting to cover first for the first out. Pine ended the inning striking out the next two for a total of 14 Ks for the game and his second win for the 2013 season.
The Panthers will be traveling to Fort Plain on Thursday for their next sectional game at 4 pm.