Jarred Porter of Knightstown
LEWISVILLE, Ind. – It took an extra inning on Monday night, but Knightstown outlasted Tri High 19-17 in a wild Tri-Eastern Conference affair.
“We knew that this was going to be a good game,” Knightstown Head Coach Daren Hardesty said. “We didn’t predict that it would be a hitter’s battle, but it turned out to be that way.”
The Panthers (6-6, 2-1) had 22 hits, while the Titans (6-6, 3-3) connected for 13 hits. Both teams also had three home runs.
“We put on a pretty good show,” Tri High Head Coach Tony Benefiel said. “It got ugly on both sides for a while. The sticks started coming alive on both sides.”
Knightstown’s Jarred Porter delivered the decisive hit in the top of the eight inning when he singled home a run to make it 18-17.
“We’ve kind of hoped our bats would come back,” Porter said of his team’s recent struggles. “We just trusted that everything would come back together and we just kept hitting the ball.”
The Panthers added the final run in the eighth on a single by Owen Wiles.
Porter tossed a scoreless seventh inning for Knightstown to send the contest to the eighth. After the Panthers grabbed the lead, Tyler Burton closed out the battle with a perfect eighth against the Titans to earn a save.
“I’m just glad our guys kept responding,” Hardesty said. “It’s a big moment for us. We’ve needed a win where we needed to prove ourselves.”
Fast Start for the Panthers
Things got started in the first inning as the Panthers scored three runs. After a two-out error by the Titans, Kaunner Cleek blasted a homer to put his team ahead 3-0.
Both teams scored once in the second inning and the Panthers added another score in the third to lead 5-1 heading into the bottom of the frame.
At that point, the both teams exploded offensively.
The Titans scored nine runs in the bottom of the third to take a 10-5 lead. Josiah Jackson hit a two-run homer and then Drew Mondrush added a three-run shot to highlight the rally.
Tri’s advantage didn’t last as the Panthers answered with eight runs in the top of the fourth to go back on top 13-10. Porter had a two-run single and Wiles blasted a three-run homer.
As quickly as the Titans fell behind they bounced back with five runs in their half of the fourth to lead 15-13. Mason Rottinghaus hit a solo homer and Jackson drove in a run as the Panthers helped the Titans with some defensive miscues.
In the fifth and sixth, Knightstown scored a run in each frame to tie the game at 15-15.
However it didn’t stay tied very long as Rottinghaus had a two-run in the bottom of the sixth to put the Titans just three outs away from a victory.
It didn’t happen. With one out in the top of the seventh, Wiles walked and Cleek tied the contest with a long blast for his second homer of the night to set the stage for his team’s extra-inning victory.
Burton and Jack Fort led the Panthers with four hits apiece, while Porter, Cleek and Jose Olivo all had three hits. Cleek ended the evening with six runs knocked in and Wiles drove in four.
For the Titans, Jackson led the way with three hits and five RBI. Rottinghaus, Mondrush and Jaron Stevens each had two hits. Rottinghaus and Mondrush both picked up three RBI.
Both teams are back in action on Tuesday as Knightstown visits Class 1A No. 2 Daleville, while the Titans entertain Monroe Central.
“You hate losing to a rival and anther Henry County team, but I also like seeing success,” Benefiel said. “Unfortunately, we came up short. We have four more games this week and our guys are ready to get back out here.”