Park Hill South’s Bryan Wilhoite (#23) fields a ball that went past Bryce Aldridge (#10) in the Panthers win over Grain Valley on March 27.
The strong start to the season for Park Hill South baseball team (5-1) has continued with its sole loss being 8-2 against Shawnee Mission North (2-0) on March 22.
In the third game of the spring for the Panthers, the Bison took control early, scoring one run in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 advantage. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Evan Demint singled and Collin Morris was walked to put two runners on, and Brody Hufft sent Demint home with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Shawnee Mission North responded with four runs to go ahead 6-1 in the ensuing inning before Demint had an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to make the score 6-3, but the Bison rattled off two more runs in the seventh inning and the Panthers were unable to score again.
Demint had two of Park Hill South’s four hits on the day when it had two errors.
Park Hill South headed to Lawrence High School to take on a pair of South Dakota teams, winning both matchups on March 24. The Panthers beat Sioux Falls O’Gorman (0-2) 10-3 and won 11-5 against Brandon Valley (2-2).
Park Hill South was in control in the contest against Sioux Falls O’Gorman, scoring nine of the first 11 runs and having 11 hits on the day. Michael Cook led the Panthers with three hits and two RBIs in the victory over the Knights.
Brandon Valley took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but Park Hill South got rolling in the fourth inning with six runs. Hufft had the first of three Panther hits, and five batters were walked to help put them up 6-1.
The Lynx chipped at the deficit in the ensuing inning – scoring three runs – but the Panthers scored five more in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. Cason Lett opened up the fifth inning scoring outing with a double and eventually scored, along with Brock Harmon, on a double by Aaron Boutz.
T.J. Parker had an RBI single, and Boutz eventually stole home to score the ninth and 10th runs for Park Hill South. Brandon Valley loaded the bases with three Park Hill South walks in the bottom of the sixth inning and Hufft scored on a passed ball.
The Lynx scored one final run in the top of the seventh inning and the Panthers walked away with two wins on the trip. Eight Panthers had one hit and Boutz finished with two hits.
Most recently, Park Hill South hosted Grain Valley (4-3) and won 5-1 on March 27. The Panthers went ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning – adding another run in the ensuing inning – but relied on their defense to pull this one out.
Despite giving up seven hits, Park Hill South only allowed one run, which occurred in the top of the sixth inning. The Panthers matched that run with a sacrifice fly by Trent Melton in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Aidan Bui went two-for-three and six other Panthers had one hit. Boutz was on the mound for nearly five innings and struck out six Grain Valley batters in that time frame.
Park Hill South will aim to extend its 3-game winning streak when it heads to Lee’s Summit North (1-3) on March 29. After that, the Panthers will compete in the Laker Wood Bat Tournament at Camdenton High School on March 31 and April 1.