There are many memorable ways to end a baseball game. A play at the plate to get that third out securing the win must be among the best. There is just extra adrenalin, extra energy and extra determination in that play at the plate. 

That is exactly what the Alba-Golden Panthers did last Tuesday as they hosted Miller Grove. In the top of the seventh inning, with a Miller Grove runner on third base and one away, relief pitcher Landon Green came off the mound to field a grounder on the first base side. He glanced over his shoulder at the runner hovering between third and home and then threw to Jayden Green for the out at first base. 

The Miller Grove runner did not hesitate. As soon as the throw started to go to first base, he took off for home. The throw to the plate was on a line and perfectly placed. Easton Campbell made a textbook tag at the plate for the third and final out.

It wasn’t the first time that Campbell played a big role in the 6-1 win. He gunned down the opposing baserunners trying to steal second base in the second and fifth innings. The throws to second base were timely and just on the mark. In the top of the first he came out from behind the plate to dig a tough pitch out of the dirt.

The sequence of play which put that Miller Grove runner on third base – double throwing errors – was the only lapse in a well-played and disciplined opening district game for the Panthers. 

Aaron Graham once again put in a solid pitching performance. He threw 83 pitches through 6 and 1/3 innings. Most notably his placement and changes in velocity kept the visitors’ bats at bay most of the evening. 

Offensively, Nick Hallman and Chelton Cook each went two for three at the plate and figured in all of Alba-Golden’s six runs.

In the first Hallman stroked a beautiful, two-strike, single to right. Cook drove him home by smashing a triple to left-center. Cook scored on a fielder’s choice.

In the third Kason Trimble was hit by a pitch. Back to back doubles by Hallman and Cook accounted for two more runs. Boedy Baker was intentionally walked, bringing Green to the plate. Green hit the deep left field fence on one hop and the ball was knocked over the fence by the Miller Grove fielder trying to field the ricochet.    

Green’s hit recorded one RBI, and Baker scored on a fielder’s choice to end the Panthers’ run tally. 

Miller Grove put 11 men on base on the night but could push only one across. Each time that they looked to potentially have a big inning, the Alba-Golden pitching or defense came through with a key play. 

It was a good team win for the Panthers in their opening district game. Generating six runs from only five base hits, however, will be hard to replicate in district play. They will need more offensive punch to go with the solid defense and accurate pitching.