Knoxville 3 Chariton 2

Friday July 16, 2010

by Don French

It's been said that “Survive and Advance” is the name of the game in post-season play. The Knoxville Panthers did just that in Friday night's first-round District game in Centerville. The Panthers squeaked past Chariton 3-2 in eight innings in very unusual fashion, taking advantage of some key Charger mistakes.

The contest was a pitcher's duel early, with both teams scoreless through four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Jamie VanderVeer reached base on an error. He later raced home from third when the Charger catcher lofted a return throw to the pitcher over the pitcher's head and into center field. That is how Knoxville took a 1-0 lead.

Eric Jones continued to deal from the pitcher's mound, shutting out the Chargers on three hits through six innings. Chariton scratched across the tying run in the seventh on a Panther error and an infield single. Jones settled for a no-decision despite allowing only this one unearned run through seven frames.

VanderVeer came on in relief in the top of the eighth. The Chargers scored a run to take a 2-1 lead and leave the Panthers with three outs left to save their season. Mike Jacks reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the eighth, then Adam Thiel and Kellen Glover came through with back-to-back hits. Thiel's single scored Jacks with the tying run. With two outs, Blake Wyatt was pinch-running for Thiel and stood on third. Inexplicably, the Chariton catcher again failed to connect on a return throw to his pitcher. Wyatt raced home to score the winning run.

Jones and Blake McWilliams each stroked two hits to pace the Panther offense. Knoxville improves to 22-9 on the season and returns to Centerville on Monday for the District final against Centerville.