MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – Despite an inauspicious start to last Friday’s Northern Section CIF Division VI playoff game in which the No. 1 seeded Panthers yielded three unearned runs in the top of the first, they ultimately settled in and routed No. 8 Fall River 18-6 to advance to the semifinal round.
While it wasn’t the tone it hoped to set in the top of the first, Maxwell took control of the game in the home half of the frame and never looked back as they capitalized on two Bulldog errors with run scoring doubles by Alex Krug and Yahir Alcaraz to regain the advantage 5-3.
After a shutdown inning in the second, the Panthers struck for four more runs with the big blow being a long double off the bat of Alcaraz which plated a pair of runs.
However, Maxwell really got the crowd fired up in the bottom of the third when Lucas Bowen’s drive to center got passed the defender’s diving attempt and rolled to the fence, resulting in a three-run inside-the-park home run.
Bowen, just a sophomore, finished the game with a total of five RBI and leads the team in batting average (.397) and slugging percentage (.460).
From that juncture, the rout was on bringing the game to an end after five due to the run rule.
As a team the Panthers pounded out 17 hits, with everyone making a plate appearance coming away with at least one.
Alcaraz ended the day 3 for 4 for four RBI, Wyatt Roach also went 3 for 4, Krug, Vincent Orozco and Luke Pearson recorded two knocks apiece, while Macklin Kuska doubled.
It was pitching by committee for Maxwell, who sent Alcaraz, Roach, Levi Velasquez and Louis Minutti to the mound where they combined for seven strikeouts while surrendering just two hits.
Riding a six-game hot streak, the Panthers (20-7) hosted No. 4 Weed (13-10) on May 19, with the winner heading to the D6 championship game at a location that had yet to be determined by the Pioneer Review print deadline.