Knoxville 3 Oskaloosa 2

Monday July 13, 2009

by Don French

It took a late-inning rally and a seventh-inning score to get it done, but the Panthers managed to escape with a 3-2 win over visiting Oskaloosa Monday evening in the first game of a twinbill with the Indians. Shortstop Zach Lenger came through with the walk-off hit, a sharp single through short that scored Corey Collins with the winning run.

The home team's bats were silent through the first four innings, managing only one hit during that time as Osky built a 2-0 lead. But that changed in the fifth. Eric Jones drew a walk and adavanced to third on a Lenger single. Lenger then stole second, setting the stage for Danny Lee to stroke a single to right, scoring both baserunners and tying the game at 2 apiece. It remained that way until the seventh, when Zach Stuart walked and Collins entered for him as a pinch-runner. Jamie VanderVeer sacrificed Collins to second ahead of Lenger's game-ending hit.

Eric Jones pitched well but settled for a no-decision. Jones allowed five hits and two runs over the first five innings. VanderVeer held the Indians scoreless over the final two frames to claim the win, his first of the year.

The dramatic win set the stage for Senior Night festivities between games, when Panther seniors Danny Lee and Nathan Hegwood were honored for their contributions to Knoxville Baseball. The festivities included the reading of a note thanking the two from Coach Mott, who was unable to attend as he continues to recover from surgery.