PARKVILLE – Park Hill South (11-13) started the baseball season off strong, however the Panthers have been struggling recently.
Since starting off 9-5, Park Hill South has lost eight of its last 10 games with both victories being by one run. The drought started following the 12-0 win over St. Joseph’s Central (8-13-1) on April 8, which was the largest margin of victory of the season.
The Panthers came up short in the ensuing five games – being outscored 39-6 in the defeats, including a pair of shutouts – with only one close one being a 3-1 loss to Liberty (17-7) on April 12. They bounced back with a 3-2 conference win over Staley (18-7) on April 19.
Carson Bjorn spent six innings on the mound, only allowing one hit, and Max Killoren shut out the Falcons in the seventh inning as the reliever. Aidan Bui ended with two hits as Michael Good, Casen Lett, Trenton Parker and Bjorn all had one hit.
Kearney (19-7) took down Park Hill South 2-0 in the first of two games on April 20. Brock Harmon came up clutch against Republic (13-12) with a walk-off to pull off the 6-5 victory.
Harmon and Good led the way offensively with two hits each; Jackson McDonald, Christian Denig, Lett, Parker and Bui had one hit. Will Schau and Killoren split time on the mound.
After winning the second game in its last three tries, Park Hill South headed to Bellevue, NE, for a double header on April 22. Both games ended in losses, by scores of 9-1 and 6-5 in nine innings.
The Panthers have five games until the postseason. Park Hill South will host Liberty (17-7) on May 1.