Lions turn back Panthers 7-5 in regional title game

Delivering big hit after big hit through the first 10 innings they played, the Concordia Panthers were unable to come up with the one of two they needed to extend their season.
Concordia outslugged Thomas More Prep-Marian 15-14 in the semifinal game of the Class 3A regional baseball tournament Wednesday afternoon at the Concordia Sports Complex, and then put up five runs in the first three innings against Minneapolis in the championship game.
The Panthers then left eight baserunners stranded over the final four innings in suffering a 7-5 loss to the Lions Wednesday night.
“We just couldn't get that big hit or big defensive play to get over the hump,” Concordia coach Brandt Hutchinson said, “Sometimes luck plays a part in winning a game, and we didn't have much luck either.”
Concordia finishes its season at 15-6.
“I know the guys are disappointed, but they need to think about what they have accomplished,” Hutchinson said.
Minneapolis (19-2) advances to the Class 3A state tournament in Emporia on May 23-24.
After needing more than three hours to outlast Thomas More-Prep in the semifinals, the Panthers jumped on Minneapolis for three runs in the top of the first inning in the title game.
Jacob Williams led off with a walk and Wyatt Trost reached base on an error.
Two runs would score on an error and Gavin Thomas singled to drive in a run.
Thomas had three hits in three at bats and drove in two runs.
Nolan White doubled and scored in the bottom of the first, and Minneapolis trailed 3-1.
The Lions then put up three runs on two walks and two errors in the second inning, and led 4-3.
Concordia reclaimed the lead at 5-4 with two runs in the top of the third inning.
Dyelan Reed doubled with two out and scored on a single by Hunter Schroeder.
A single by Thomas plated Schroeder.
Minneapolis answered with three runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter in the bottom of the inning to go back on top 7-5.
Tim Peltier led off the top of the fourth inning with a single and Nick Vignery walked.
Williams popped out and Peltier was forced out on a ground ball by Trost.
Chas Carlgren walked to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning.
The Panthers had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth inning, but were unable to advance them.
Concordia left two stranded in the sixth inning.
Thomas reached on an error leading off the top of the seventh inning, and advanced to third.
White struck out three consecutive Concordia batters to preserve the win for Minneapolis.
Carlgren pitched the first two innings in taking the loss for the Panthers. He gave up six runs, two earned, on just one hit, struck out three and walked five.
Reed worked four innings, and allowed one run on one hit. He struck out six and walked three.
Schroeder scored two runs and drove in one.
Third-seeded Concordia fell behind second-seeded Thomas More Prep-Marian 4-0 in the first inning in the semifinal game.
Sending 13 batters to the plate, the Panthers erupted for nine runs in the top of the second inning to go up 9-4.
Reed had a two-run double in the inning.
Thomas walked, doubled and scored two runs.
Vignery walked and scored on a passed ball in the top of the third inning to push the lead to 10-4.
Thomas More Prep made it 10-5 with a run in the bottom of the third.
A two-run single by Chase Parker gave the Panthers a 12-5 cushion.
Concordia added three runs in the top of the fifth inning to go on top 15-5.
Carlgren doubled and Reed walked.
Schroeder knocked in two runs with a single and scored on a base hit by Thomas.
The Monarchs then sent 14 batters to the plate and racked up nine runs on six hits, two walks and three hit batters to close the gap to 15-14.
Thomas More Prep had the tying run at third base when Reed got a strikeout to end the inning.
Reed retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the sixth inning before Noah Gibson singled.
Tyson Dinkel popped out to end the inning.
With the Panthers clinging to the one-run lead, Reed set the Monarchs down in order in the bottom of the seventh to pick up the save.
“Both teams had to be mentally tough. I was proud of our guys. They could have folded and given up, but they showed what they are made of and held on,” Hutchinson said.
Tryston Jochems pitched the first four and a third innings to get the win. He gave up 11 runs, nine earned, on six hits struck out three and walked three.
Trost gave up three runs on two hits in one-third of an inning.
Reed pitched two and a third scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
Thomas had three hits, drove in two runs and scored two.
Carlgren was 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs batted in and two runs scored.
Parker had three hits in four at bats and drove in two runs.
Reed and Schroeder each drove in two runs and scored three runs.