(Audubon, IA) — Despite being the first on the board and holding the lead for five-and-a-half scoreless innings, the Crusaders couldn’t contain the Panthers’ late-game scoring spurt.
It was a pitchers’ duel for the majority of the game, with junior Cal Heydon starting for the Crusaders and senior Kalab Kuhl for the Panthers. Both starters combined for 21 strikeouts through the first seven innings. After stranding a runner in the top of the first, Coon Rapids-Bayard attacked first with an RBI walk from Tyler Mohr. When asked what was the key to keeping the Crusaders to one run, Kuhl said that he was able to find his groove after a shaky first inning:
Strong defense was present for both teams but time was running out for the Panthers as they tried to find a way to tie the game up. The Panthers fired up when they were down to their last three outs, with freshman Macklin Loftus reaching second base on an error. His courtesy runner William Anderson slid into home safely on a bunt from junior Jason Kastner tying the game. The Crusaders were sent down in order in the bottom of the seventh, putting the state qualifier match-up into extra innings. Wes Vana started the top of the eighth with a double down the right-field line, followed by a walk from Kuhl. With two runners on, cleanup hitter Cale Cunard lined into right field for a sacrifice RBI. When asked what he was looking for in the at-bat, Cunard said his goal was to stay prepared for any pitch:
The Panthers brought in Loftus to close out the game, who struck out four, walked two, and left the Crusaders hitless in the final two innings. Loftus gave credit to the Crusaders offense and said that the Panthers needed to show up strong in the match-up:
Heydon takes the loss for the Crusaders, who struck out 11, walked four, and allowed four hits in the affair. The Crusaders finish their season at a record of 25-4. The Panthers qualify for the state tournament, advancing their record to 20-5.
