Knoxville 4  Saydel 14

Saturday June 7, 2008

by Don French

The Saydel Eagles came into Knoxville Saturday ranked number seven in the state, and looked the part in a five-inning 14-4 dismantling of the Panthers in a first-round game of the Knoxville Tournament.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Nathan Hegwood's RBI single, but it would be all Saydel from then on. The Eagles combined six hits with some costly Panther errors to score six times and build a 6-1 cushion. Knoxville responded with three runs in the third, with two of those scoring on Jesse Swanson's double.

The Eagles pulled away, scoring seven runs in the next two innings to push the lead to 13-4. The potent Saydel lineup totaled 17 hits for the game and continued to be aided by Knoxville fielding miscues. Three straight hits in the bottom of the fifth gave Saydel its final run and ended the game via ten-run rule.

Swanson and Blake McWilliams each had two hits to lead the Panthers. With the defeat, Knoxville (5-8) dropped into a consolation match-up with Centerville.