JUDA - The Panthers split a doubleheader with Barneveld, the former No. 1 ranked team in the state in Division 4, on Tuesday night. Game one ended in Juda's favor, 2-1 in extra innings, and game two Barneveld won 16-15.
"I think the kids are starting to realize that they are a good team and can compete with anyone they play," Panthers coach Kyle Krueger said.
In the first game, Jacob Ramos pitched nine innings as Juda squeaked out a 2-1 win. Ramos struck out seven hitters, allowed six hits and four walks.
"Jacob threw a heck of a game and Tyler Piece really clutched up," Krueger said.
Barneveld took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth with two outs on back to back doubles.
In the bottom of the seventh, Tyler Pierce led off with a single up the middle. He stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Duecker. Bryan Bauman drove in Pierce with a fielders choice to second base.
Neither team scored in the eighth, but in the ninth Barneveld looked to have the upper hand. Patrick Clerkin singled to lead off the inning. Josh Slaney's sac bunt attempt popped into the air, and Ramos caught it for the out and flipped the ball to second for a double play - the second time in the game a play similar to that happened.
In the home half of the ninth, Pierce again started the rally - this time with two outs. The senior centerfielder reached on a single and advanced to single on an error. Duecker drove in Pierce with an RBI single just three pitches later.
"That was just a great piece of hitting," Krueger said. "The first game was an amazing baseball game. Both teams were able to make plays and big pitches the whole game. Neither team was willing to break."
Game 2
After a pitcher's duel with little hitting in the first game, the second game of the doubleheader was the reverse.
"The second game was a polar opposite from the first. The first game was very well played and nip-and-tuck all the way. The second game was a slugfest in which neither team was ever out of it," Krueger said. The teams combined for 31 runs in game two.
Juda (5-6, 5-3 Six Rivers East) pounded out 13 hits in the second game, getting led by pitcher Steven West, who finished 4-4 with 4 RBIs, a home run and a double. Ramos (3-5, 3 runs, 4 RBI), Beau Benner (2-3, 4 runs), Chris Melton (double) and Bryan Bauman (2 RBI) each added to the offensive production.
For Barneveld, Clerkin (3-4) had a pair of homers and seven RBI, Shawn Monson hit a 3-run homer in the first and Slaney added another bomb for the Eagles in the sixth.
"They just had one too many blows for us to withstand," Krueger said.
Barneveld took a 4-3 lead after the first inning, but a pair of four-run innings in the fourth and fifth had Juda ahead 12-9. A seven-run sixth inning by the Eagles meant a four-run seventh was needed in order for the Panthers to take the game into extras.
Instead, Juda came up a run short, but Krueger could not be happier with the way his team played, however.
"I am very proud of how these kids scratched and clawed all night. I think our best is yet to come."
West pitched 5 1/3 innings in the second game, striking out five hitters while allowing 14 runs (six earned), five hits and 10 walks. Duecker pitched the final 2/3, allowing two hits, a walk and a pair of runs to score before strikeout the final two batters in the sixth.
"I think the kids are starting to realize that they are a good team and can compete with anyone they play," Panthers coach Kyle Krueger said.
In the first game, Jacob Ramos pitched nine innings as Juda squeaked out a 2-1 win. Ramos struck out seven hitters, allowed six hits and four walks.
"Jacob threw a heck of a game and Tyler Piece really clutched up," Krueger said.
Barneveld took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth with two outs on back to back doubles.
In the bottom of the seventh, Tyler Pierce led off with a single up the middle. He stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Duecker. Bryan Bauman drove in Pierce with a fielders choice to second base.
Neither team scored in the eighth, but in the ninth Barneveld looked to have the upper hand. Patrick Clerkin singled to lead off the inning. Josh Slaney's sac bunt attempt popped into the air, and Ramos caught it for the out and flipped the ball to second for a double play - the second time in the game a play similar to that happened.
In the home half of the ninth, Pierce again started the rally - this time with two outs. The senior centerfielder reached on a single and advanced to single on an error. Duecker drove in Pierce with an RBI single just three pitches later.
"That was just a great piece of hitting," Krueger said. "The first game was an amazing baseball game. Both teams were able to make plays and big pitches the whole game. Neither team was willing to break."
Game 2
After a pitcher's duel with little hitting in the first game, the second game of the doubleheader was the reverse.
"The second game was a polar opposite from the first. The first game was very well played and nip-and-tuck all the way. The second game was a slugfest in which neither team was ever out of it," Krueger said. The teams combined for 31 runs in game two.
Juda (5-6, 5-3 Six Rivers East) pounded out 13 hits in the second game, getting led by pitcher Steven West, who finished 4-4 with 4 RBIs, a home run and a double. Ramos (3-5, 3 runs, 4 RBI), Beau Benner (2-3, 4 runs), Chris Melton (double) and Bryan Bauman (2 RBI) each added to the offensive production.
For Barneveld, Clerkin (3-4) had a pair of homers and seven RBI, Shawn Monson hit a 3-run homer in the first and Slaney added another bomb for the Eagles in the sixth.
"They just had one too many blows for us to withstand," Krueger said.
Barneveld took a 4-3 lead after the first inning, but a pair of four-run innings in the fourth and fifth had Juda ahead 12-9. A seven-run sixth inning by the Eagles meant a four-run seventh was needed in order for the Panthers to take the game into extras.
Instead, Juda came up a run short, but Krueger could not be happier with the way his team played, however.
"I am very proud of how these kids scratched and clawed all night. I think our best is yet to come."
West pitched 5 1/3 innings in the second game, striking out five hitters while allowing 14 runs (six earned), five hits and 10 walks. Duecker pitched the final 2/3, allowing two hits, a walk and a pair of runs to score before strikeout the final two batters in the sixth.
