Knoxville 11 Centerville 10

Tuesday July 20, 2010

by Don French

Knoxville could very well be the “Kardiac Kids” of the 2010 post-season. The Panthers staged an improbable six-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to come from five runs down and stun Centerville Tuesday night, 11-10. The win gave Knoxville the District 12 championship. Along with the first-round win over Chariton, both Panther wins this post-season have been the result of final-inning rallies.

This game actually began Monday evening, and got off to a good start for the local team. Knoxville scored five times in the first inning to take a 5-2 lead. Poor Panther defense allowed Centerville to score four runs in the second for a 6-5 lead, as the Reds' rally featured only one base hit. The Big Reds extended their lead to 9-5 before a downpour at Indian Hills field sent everyone running, and forced the teams to complete the contest on Tuesday.

Centerville scored one more run to extend the lead off of Eric Jones, who came on in relief of starting pitcher Kellen Glover. The 10-5 deficit stared down Knoxville the rest of the way until the seventh inning, when the Panthers were down to having only three outs to extend their season.

The first seven Knoxville batters of the seventh reached base during the decisive rally. Bryant McWilliams waked, and scored on Jones' double to right. Blake McWilliams and Mike Jacks both walked ahead of Lance Daugherty's two-RBI double. Adam Thiel scored Jacks with a single up the middle. Daugherty then scored the tying run on an excellent suicide squeeze play, with Jamie VanderVeer laying down the key bunt. A passed ball allowed Thiel to sprint home from third base with the game-winner and set off a Panther victory celebration.

Jones got the win with three strong innings of relief, allowing one run and two hits over three innings. Jones also had three hits at the plate. Daugherty smacked two hits and also had two RBI's, as did Thiel.

Knoxville improves to 23-9 for the season, and travels to Ottumwa on Wednesday for a Sub-State final against Mount Pleasant, with a berth in the State Tournament on the line. The game begins at Ottumwa's Legion Field at 7:00 PM.