Baseball comeback falls short on senior night

It’s only fitting sole senior Kyle Strider found the Panthers’ first run on senior night Friday in a 14-12 loss to Class 2A fifth-ranked Underwood (18-2).

In addition to his first-inning run, Strider had three RBIs, two hits and two walks on five plate appearances. Strider started at pitcher, throwing 25 strikes on 42 pitches against a tough Eagles offense.

The game looked to be grim, the Eagles taking a 10-run lead on the Panthers in the fourth, but the Creston boys kept their composure.

Heading into the fourth, the Panthers were looking to cut the lead to keep the game in motion. Milo Staver and Dylan Hoepker hit singles, both stealing second base as Tanner Klejch came in to courtesy run for Staver.

Strider hit a single to send both runners home and narrow the lead to 13-5.

Incoming freshman Tom Mikkelsen and junior Staver both came in to pitch for Creston. Mikkelsen pitched two innings, throwing 34 strikes on 64 pitches and striking out three batters.

Staver came in during the fourth inning and closed out for the Panthers, throwing 30 strikes on 49 pitches, striking out four batters and allowing only one run.

In the top of the fifth, left fielder Tyler Riley dove for an impressive catch for the first out. Sam Henry had the second catch and McCoy Haines fielded a ground ball on the force-out at third.

A run by Cael Turner in the fifth and Parker Varner and Riley in the sixth made the score 14-8 headed into the bottom of the seventh.

Henry hit a single, Mikkelsen was walked and Staver and Hoepker followed with singles, all four of them scoring to narrow the lead to 14-12.

With two outs, Strider hit a single to keep the momentum going, but a following strikeout ended the Panthers’ hope of a comeback.

Creston returns to action tonight as they host Hawkeye 10 leader Lewis Central (22-3) in a doubleheader. The first game begins at 5:30 p.m.