By: Scott Nickerson
The Prattville Christian Academy Panthers won two of three games over Lee-Scott Academy in the 3rd round of the Class 3A playoffs to advance to the state semifinals.
The Panthers won Game 1 of the series 6-0. Blake Bowman pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine batters in seven innings and only allowing two hits on just 83 pitches.
“Blake had a great game,” said PCA Coach Tommy Goodson. “83 pitches in 7 innings is great. He throws strikes and keeps batters guessing. He is a joy to watch pitch.”
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 4th inning when Bryce Masters and Conner Williams started the inning off with base hits. With one out, Bowman singled to bring in a run. Two more runs were scored later in the inning after a Tyson Houston single.
The Panthers scored three more runs in the bottom of the 6th to win comfortably, 6-0.
However, Lee-Scott took Game 2 of the series by a score of 5-3, setting up a winner take all Game 3 on Friday. In the decisive game, Lee-Scott scored four runs in the top of the 4th inning to take a 5-3 lead. But the Panthers immediately answered in the bottom of the 4th. Gavin Oates and Jack Diefenderfer got singles, and Cody Baker got a 2-out hit to load the bases.
Lawson reached base after a wild pitch on a 3rd strike, bringing home a run. Masters then walked, bringing in the game typing run.
With the bases loaded, the game tied, and two outs, Williams hit a double down the left field line that brought home two runs, pushing the Panthers ahead 7-5.
PCA scored two more runs in the 6th inning to move ahead 9-5, but Lee-Scott still wasn’t done. The Warriors were able to load the bases with nobody out and the game tying run at the plate. With Lawson pitching, the Warriors grounded into a double play, scoring a run in the process. After the next batter was hit, Williams came in to pitch and threw three straight strikes, striking out the Warrior batter and sealing the win for the Panthers, 9-6.
“We didn’t give up when we got behind,” said Coach Goodson. “Once we went down 5-3, the next inning we put the ball in play and put pressure on them and put up 4 to take control. Our relief guys did a great job. Luke Lawson and Conner Williams really stepped up.”
With the win, the Panthers’ baseball teams advances to the Class 3A semi-finals for the first time in school history. It is especially sweet after falling in the 3rd round the last two seasons.
“We have been close the last two years previously and it was definitely one of our goals to get past the 3rd round,” said Coach Goodson. “These guys had a lot of pressure on them because of our record. 34 wins was not going to mean much if we didn’t move to the next round. They have held each other accountable on and off the field. I’ve very proud of them all.”
PCA will host Glennwood in the Class 3A semifinals with a doubleheader on Wednesday and a third game, if necessary, on Thursday. The Gators have a 30-4 record and have been dominant in the playoffs, outscoring their opponents through six games by a combined score of 90-7. “Glennwood is good,” said Coach Goodson. “They are a lot like us. Good pitching, good defense and they hit the ball. I hope that we can hold our own.”
