Park Hill South senior Luke Russell came in to relieve Aaron Boutz in the first inning of the Panthers’ 12-1 loss to Oak Park in the first round of districts at Creekside Baseball Complex on May 16.
It was a rough day for the Park Hill South baseball team (18-16) in the first round of the Class 6 District 8 Tournament when the Panthers were routed 12-1 by Oak Park (23-11) in five innings at Creekside Baseball Complex on May 16.
In a rematch of the No. 4 versus the No. 5 seed from last year’s districts, Park Hill South was unable to hold off the lower seed this go-round. Aaron Boutz had a rough outing on the mound in the first inning as the Panthers’ starting pitcher was replaced by Luke Russell before the inning concluded.
Boutz has been a reliable pitcher this spring, but Oak Park scored five runs on him – including two home runs – before Russell came in. The senior pitcher closed out the inning, but the Panthers trailed 5-0 before they had a chance to bat.
The Northmen also took care of business in the bottom of the inning, striking out the first three Park Hill South batters. Oak Park’s catcher dropped the third strike two times but was able to throw out the runner both times.
In the top of the second inning, Brody Hufft caught a pop fly and Collin Morris caught two to keep the Northmen off the board. The second inning was the Panthers’ best chance to put some runs together with both hits of the night coming then.
Hufft was the first batter who stepped to the plate, connecting with a home run to score the Panthers’ sole run of the night. Boutz reached first base on an error by Oak Park first baseman Matt Dunn and Christian Denig singled.
With two runners on base, Park Hill South failed to bat them in as Michael Cook struck out and Boutz was forced out at third base when Brayden Wright connected on a hit to the shortstop. The next two innings went scoreless until Oak Park erupted for seven runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The Panthers’ pitching woes continued with three different players stepping onto the mound in the inning as Russell started the inning and his reliever was replaced. Bryce Aldridge and Van Angerer were the other two Park Hill South pitchers as the trio combined for three walks and allowed four hits, while the Panthers also had an error in the inning.
What the game really came down to was two tough innings, the first and fifth, with the latter putting the nail in the coffin. Park Hill South was unable to respond, and the game ended on a mercy rule through five innings.
The seven seniors – Evan Demint, Bryan Wilhoite, Boutz, Hufft, Cook, Russell and Morris – helped the squad to a top-5 seed in each of the last three districts. The Panthers will have big shoes to fill next spring.