MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – After downing Williams 12-1 in the first game of a doubleheader on Mar. 7, the Panthers came up short 3-7 to Vacaville Christian in the nightcap, then took third place in their home tournament with an 8-5 win over Pierce.
In the tournament opener against the Yellowjackets, sophomore Levi Velazquez struck out eight over four innings to hold Williams in check.
Vincent Orozco went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Panthers at the plate, while Brody Jones had a hit and three RBI.
Velazquez, Massey Baker and Landon Barrett collected one hit apiece as well.
Against a solid Vacaville Christian squad, inexperience got to the Panthers as they made small mistakes that led to their first loss of the season.
Colt Montgomery finished 2-for-3 against the Falcons, with Yahir Alcaraz contributing an RBI single.
On the mound Massey Baker turned in an admirable performance over four innings in which he struck out five, scattered four hits and allowed just three earned runs before yielding to Alcaraz, who tossed the final frame and did not allow an earned run.
Yet credit to the Panthers for bouncing back against the Bears despite struggling in the field at times.
Alcaraz, Melvin Martinez and Walter Avery combined for five strikeouts and held the Bears to two earned runs.
Baker went 1-for-2 at the plate with a double in addition to driving in four runs, while Jones, Orozco, Barrett and Tanner Vierra recorded hits for Maxwell as well.
This week the Panthers (5-1) welcomed Esparto to town on Tuesday then on Thursday headed to Anderson to take on the Cubs.