Power(s) surge

Creston catcher Zach Powers provided the offense, and Keaton Hulett took care of business on the mound.

In the first of many twilight games to be played this season on the Southwestern Community College field, which has no lights, the Panthers routed visiting Corning in the 2012 baseball season opener Monday night, 10-0, in six innings.

Hulett knocked in the final two runs to account for the 10-run mercy rule, after a dominant performance on the mound. His three-hit shutout included three strikeouts and no walks, backed by an errorless defense.

His battery-mate provided much of the rest of the offense. Powers, batting third in a lineup that did not include soccer players Ben Landers and Conner Pals Monday, belted three doubles and a triple with five runs batted in.

Powers’ blast in the left-center gap in the fourth inning cleared the bases, and he ended up scoring on the play as the throw to third got away from the Red Raider defense. That extended a 3-0 lead to 7-0, which was more than enough insurance for Hulett on this night.

“We came in tonight and just wanted to throw strikes,” Hulett said. “That’s my main goal this year. I like playing these fast games. I like to keep my defense in the game. Our defense was very good tonight.”

Powers said he took more first-pitch fastballs than usual against three Corning hurlers, but found several fastballs to pound in good hitting locations.

“Coach has been really working with us on the hitting, and I guess it just paid off,” Powers said. “I think I go in more focused.”

Coach Steve Birchard sees his catcher gaining confidence at the plate.

“Zach hits the ball on the nose and he’s strong enough that when he hits it on the nose, it’s moving pretty fast,” Birchard said. “We hit several nice line drives into the grass, and that’s what we need to do. Those pitchers tonight weren’t blowing people away, but they aren’t total slouches, either. It was a really good start for us.”

Hulett’s pitching and the flawless defense was just as pleasing to the Panther coach.

“When you play errorless ball and you don’t walk anybody, good things will happen,” Birchard said. “When you’re throwing strikes like that, everybody is on their toes and you get better fielding.”

Brittain Swartz, Cole Schafer and Logan Carlson had Corning’s three hits, all singles. Starter Reggie Perrin allowed no earned runs in two innings before giving way to Schafer and Dustin Sleep in the early-season contest. Perrin also made a spectacular catch deep in center field on a shot hit by Creston’s Briar Evans that resulted in a flyout.

Creston is playing home baseball games at SWCC because of tornado damage at the CHS facility, particularly stress damage to the light poles.

Today’s scheduled game with Guthrie Center has been canceled. Woodward Academy was added to Guthrie Center’s conference, and that conference matchup was plugged into today’s date.

The Panthers face Nodaway Valley at Greenfield Thursday.

Junior varsity

Creston’s JV pounded out a 17-2 junior varsity victory Monday, with at least one base hit from everyone in the lineup.

Jon Birchard threw a four-inning one-hitter with both runs being unearned. He fanned six and walked three.

“The third and fourth innings he really got ahead of the hitters and did a nice job, and everyone in our lineup hit the ball,” said Creston coach Kyle Wilson.

Corning’s only hit was a double by William Roberts.

Birchard was 3-4 with a double and Rylee Winners was 2-4 with a double for Creston. Trevor Luther was 3-4 and Tyson Tucker went 3-3 with three runs scored. Finishing with two hits were Brandon Utley, Trey Benson, Garret Taylor and Nathan Haley.

R H E

Corning 000 000 — 0 3 2

Creston 000 000 — 10 9 0

Reggie Perrin 1K 2BB, Cole Schafer (3) 2K 1BB, Dustin Sleep (5) 2K 2BB and Sleep. Keaton Hulett 3K 0BB and Zach Powers. W — Hulett. L— Perrin. 3B — Cr: Powers. 2B — Cr: Powers 3. RBI — Cr: Powers 5, Hulett 2, Jon Birchard 1, Briar Evans 1. Multiple hitters — Cr: Powers 4, Cole Crawford 2.