The Van Buren County Warriors took a step out of conference play and fell on the road to the Pekin Panthers 12-8
The Warriors struck first in a game that was bumped up 90 minutes due to weather concerns when Jackson Manning came around to score to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. The Panthers saw their first three batters reach base in the first which lead to 2 runs. After the first, the Panthers lead 2-1. The Warriors would have an answer in the top of the second scoring three runs as Bailey Roen (1) and Jackson Manning (2) collected RBI to lead 4-2 going to the bottom of the second. The Panthers again would answer in the see-saw game. Both Blake Juhl and Jaedon Wolver would score and bring the score to a 4-4 tie after 2 innings. Over the next two innings, the Warriors would seem to have momentum on their side as they would score 4 runs between the third and fourth. McEntee and Manning both would collect 2 RBI each, including a solo home run for McEntee. The Warriors would lead 8-4 heading to the bottom of the fourth. That would be when the Panthers had their biggest inning of the young season. In the bottom of the fourth, the Panthers would send 11 batters to the plate and score 7 runs. For the Panthers, the inning was highlighted by a Jaedon Wolver grand slam as the Panthers lead 11-8 after four innings. The Panthers would add one more run off a Hudson VanEnglenhoven solo homer as the Panthers went on to win 12-8.
For the Panthers, they improved to 1-2, and the Warriors fell to 1-3. Up next for the Warriors they play host to Fort Madison Wednesday night a game that will be broadcast on KTWA, for the Panthers they get back into conference play on Thursday playing host to Wapello a game broadcast on KISS FM.
Warriors: Jackson Manning went 3 for 4 in the game: 2 singles, as well as a double with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Lukas McEntee had a single, solo home run, walk and hit by pitch while collecting 2 RBI.
Panthers: Jaedon Wolver: 2 for 4 with a double and a grand slam, for 5 RBI and a run scored. Also threw two scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts