by Steve Bradley
After two weeks of Coach Mike Lilac rescheduling games because of weather and unusable field conditions at HFCS, the baseball team finally got to go outside and play a real game. The fact that it was raining was ignored; the boys were playing a baseball game.
The Cambridge Indians came to Hoosick Falls last Thursday. Not wasting any time, the Indians scored two runs in the top of the first. The Panthers came right back, taking a 5 – 2 lead in the bottom of the inning. The inning was highlighted by Shane Richard’s two run double. The Panthers tacked on another run in the fifth to take the 6 – 2 victory.
Wyatt Whitman had the hot bat for the Panthers going 3 for 3 with a double and two singles. Ace pitcher Kealan Hitt pitched a complete game for the Panthers, striking out 13.
Next up for the Panthers is a home game against Mt. Anthony on Friday, April 18. Game time is 4 pm. A busy schedule follows the weekend with the team traveling to Fort Ann, Monday, April 21, for a 4:15 start. On Tuesday, April 22, the team will be home against Stillwater for a 4:15 start. On Wednesday, April 23, Granville comes to HFCS for a 4:15 start. On Thursday, April 24, the Panthers travel to Hoosic Valley for a 4:15 game. Finally, on Friday, April 25, the team makes the short trip to Bennington to face Mt. Anthony at 4 pm.
With all these games, and the rest of the season looks similar, pitching rules come to the forefront. The rules say a pitcher can pitch a maximum of 12 innings in one day; in any 6 consecutive day period a pitcher can pitch a maximum of 18 innings; and if he pitches eight or more innings in one day, he must have 2 nights rest before he can pitch again. Coach Lilac believes he has the depth to make it through.