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The Panthers got a tie-breaking single from Patrick Koontz and a 3-run triple by Travis Vogler to avoid a huge upset that would have evaporated Ledford’s seemingly comfortable two-game lead in the CCC it had just 30 hours before the first pitch.
East Davidson dominated play through five innings, but the Golden Eagles have had a problem closing the deal and Wednesday was no different. Ryan Coleman flustered the Panther battery only to falter in the sixth, all be it some of it was not his doing. An error and a wild pitch got the Ledford rally going in the sixth as Vogler’s RBI single plated Sam Berrier, drawing the Panthers to within three. Ricky Vaughn came up four batters later with the bases loaded and legged out an infield single, driving in Luke Ledwell, but the drama didn’t stop there. East shortstop Keaton Hawks tried to get the Ledford runner leaning off second only to have the ball trickle away from Bryson Faulkner, allowing Tyler Rogers to cross the plate.
Down just a run, Koontz brought LHS all the way back with a deep triple to center, plating Vaughn and Jacob Scott for the first Panther lead of the night. East marched right back in the bottom of the sixth and tied the score at six with some luck of its own.
With two outs and runner on third, Faulkner got under a Vogler offering a sent the ball high in the sky right in front of home plate. Panther catcher Daniel Baker tried to get a bead on a ball perhaps third baseman Berrier or Vogler should have handled, resulting in no one making the play. Adam Hayes, who reached base by getting hit and then stole second, never stopped running on the play and scored the game-tying run.
Due to the late start, interviews were not possible due to deadline.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 233, or at eliotduke@hotmail.com.