The Magnolia Panthers opened their 2019 baseball season in style with a 10 to 0 win over Ashdown in the first round of the Ralph Gross Memorial Tournament in Nashville. Magnolia is the 3 time defending champion of the Ralph Gross Tournament.
The Panthers got on the board in the first inning when Kevin Zhao reached on an error, and came in to score on a double by Payton Campbell.
Magnolia added 5 more runs in the second. Eli Ward walked to lead off the inning. After one out, Connor Harrington worked a 10 pitch at bat for another walk. Zhao had a bunt single to load the bases. Campbell then hit his second double of the game to plate 2. Dayton Dickson walked to load the bases. Adam Pieratt drew a walk to force in one run. Halen Sanders reached on a fielder’s choice which drove in the 4th run of the inning. The final run scored when Eli Fields was safe on an error.
The Panthers put the game away in the 3rd with 4 more runs. After consecutive walks to Zhao, Campbell and Dickson, Pieratt drove a ball down the right field line for a bases clearing triple. He then scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Campbell led the Panthers at the plate with 2 doubles and 3 RBI’s. He also drew a walk. Harrington, Zhao, Pieratt, Sandes and Garret Clark all had one hit for Magnolia. Dayton Dickson drew 3 walks, with Pieratt walking twice, and Harrington, Zhao and Eli Ward also walked.
Harrington went the distance on the mound in the game called after 4 innings because of the time limit. He struck out 3, walked 2 and allowed 4 hits.
Magnolia is scheduled to play again in the tournament Saturday at noon against the winner of the Monticello – Farmington game. The championship game is set for 6:00 pm Saturday.
