Panther bats crush Cumby

Posted 4/15/21

Nick Hallman, Chelton Cook and Easton Campbell have emerged as the consistent offensive punch for the Alba-Golden Panthers this spring. In Friday’s 15-0 rout of the Cumby Trojans...

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Panther bats crush Cumby

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Nick Hallman, Chelton Cook and Easton Campbell have emerged as the consistent offensive punch for the Alba-Golden Panthers this spring. In Friday’s 15-0 rout of the Cumby Trojans, Hallman and Cook each had three hits while batting second and third in the line-up, while Campbell went 2 for 3 as the designated hitter. 

Hallman reached in the first by beating out an infield hit. Cook’s double drove in the first two runs of the night. After Cook scored on a fielder’s choice, Campbell ripped a triple which brought Boedy Baker home. A Cumby fielding error contributed two more runs to the Panthers’ cause and made the score 6-0 after an inning. 

In the second, it was a Cook triple that chased Hallman home. Cook scored on a deep sacrifice fly to center by Baker. Hallman singled home Kason Trimble in the third to add a run.

A five-hit fourth inning which produced six more Panther runs and caused the game to be called with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. 

Cumby could never generate a rally against Alba-Golden starter Aaron Graham. In four innings of work, Graham gave up only three hits while striking out six and walking two. Graham worked himself out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the second inning by registering two strike-outs and a ground ball out. 

The Trojans managed three more baserunners, but Graham exercised great control and tempo in shutting down potential rallies.  

Coach Jimmy Oxford has the Panthers playing strong fundamental baseball at just the right time. Alba-Golden is in the second half of their district play and will next be at home Friday April 16 against North Hopkins.

The win evened the Panthers in their series with Cumby, which won last Tuesday, 9-7.

Cumby led 5-0 after two. Alba-Golden scored six in the top of the fifth to lead 7-5 but Cumby answered with four for the final margin. Cumby had seven hits to six for the Panthers, with Boedy Baker and Jayden Green each getting two. Green drove in three runs.

Green pitched four and a third with six strike outs. Chelton Cook got an inning and two thirds on the hill, fanning three.