Panthers shut out Mustangs

It was a by-the-numbers game Tuesday as Creston added another victory to their season, giving the Panthers their ninth straight win in a shut out against Shenandoah, their first of the season.

The win brings their once-cold record to 13-7 (8-4). From a solid start which gave the Panthers three runs by the end of the second, it was a matter of keeping the lead as Creston ended the game 5-0 against the Mustangs.

Senior Parker Varner delivered a stellar game, striking out nine and allowing only two hits. For the first four innings, it was three up, three down as Varner logged six strikeouts on the mound during that time.

Offensively, it was a hot start for Creston as senior Tyler Riley would be the first to record a run, sent home from a single by freshman Brady McDonald.

Riley was put in place by a sacrifice bunt from freshman Logan Stehr, alongside a hit from sophomore Tom Mikkelsen.

At the bottom of the second, the Panthers capitalized on fielding errors to bring home two more runners. Stehr logged two RBIs in the play which scored senior Brayden Schoon and Riley.

The game’s only home run would come from Mikkelsen. The catcher smashed the fourth run of the game over the fence during the bottom of the fourth.

Varner hit the fifth run of the game later that inning, clocking a double to bring in McDonald from first. The 5-0 score would remain for the rest of the game.

Varner, Mikkelsen and Riley led in hits at two each. Eighth-grade designated hitter Mason Wilson filled in for the injured Mattias Schultes in the batting lineup, who was injured Friday against Clarke. Schultes’s fielding duties were covered by sophomore Rhett Driskell at first base.

The Panthers can extend the winning streak to double digits tonight at Glenwood. Two more road games await on Saturday against Bedford and Tri-Center during the Bedford Triangular.