Panthers Bats Explode In Victory

What looked like a pitcher’s duel early on at Jack Couch Park ended up like so many before it- the complete opposite.

London starter Ismael Pena (0-1) and Kitchener starter Brady Schnarr (1-0) were locked into a very good battle early on.  London would get on the board in the 1st inning with a 2 run home run by Byron Reichstein.  Kitchener would answer in the bottom of the fram with a solo shot of their own by Brian Burton.  That would be all of the scoring until a very eventful 5th inning.

London would smack 2 home runs in the inning, a solo home run to lead off the frame by Phillip Thrappas and a 2 run home run by Mike Ambrose later in the frame would give the Majors a 5-1 lead heading to the bottom of the 5th.  That’s where everything fell apart for the Majors.

Kitchener would plate 10 runs in the inning on 8 hits to take a commanding 11-5 lead over the Majors.  Kitchener would see 9 straight batters reach base with 1 out in the frame.  Colin Gordner and Mike Gordner, Tanner Nivins and Stephen Whalen lead the way for the Panthers with 2 run singles in the inning.

The Panthers got in on the long ball action later in the game with Ryley Davenport launching his first IBL homer in the 6th and Tanner Nivins sent out a 3 run shot in the 7th.  Nivins homer capped the scoring in a 9 run 7th inning to extend the Panthers lead to 22-5.

Austin Hassani would pitch the last 4 innings of the blowout allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, and 4 punchouts for his first IBL save.

The Panthers are on the road with their next game coming Saturday, May 25th @ 1:05pm in Welland.  The Panthers next home game doesn’t come until Saturday, June 1st @ 2:00pm against the Brantford Red Sox.