HS Baseball: Hot bats sends Independence past PikeView

Coal City - Independence and PikeView have opened the season on opposite ends of the baseball spectrum.

Playing a brutal schedule, the Patriots had struggled to a 2-9-1 record, while the Panthers roared out of the gate winning 11 of its first 12 games.

Monday night the paths of the two AAA Region 3 baseball titans intersected at Joseph H. Goddard Field in a rematch of last year's regional championship series.

Records did not seem to matter.

Scoring six first inning runs and totaling 11 hits. Independence was once again on the better end of the scoreboard in an 8-5 win.

"We hit the ball a little better tonight, but we have been hitting the ball better," Independence head coach Scott Cuthbert said. "They scored the run to open the game, but it was big for us to get a bunch of runs early."

Leading up to the game Monday, the Patriots had played six games against teams in a higher classification, four in Class AAA and AA Wheeling Central, who Cuthbert felt might be the best team they had seen so far this season.

As a result, when the Panthers put their ace, Eli Hilling on the mound, the Patriots never flinched.

"I'm not sure if it has helped that we have seen so many pitchers like that early, or not. We have seen a lot of good arms already this year," Cuthbert said. "I don't think we were intimidated by it. Sometimes when you face a big arm, it can be intimidating. I didn't think any of my kids looked that way. I thought we battled."

Trailing 1-0 on an RBI-single from Braden Huggins before they came to the plate, Independence wasted no time setting the tone for the game.

A walk to Levi Barnett and a single from Degan Williams set the table for Cole Cunningham who tied the game with another base-knock.

A one-out error on Micah Cuthbert's ground ball loaded the bases bringing Reid Warden to the plate. The big right-hander ripped a double into the right-center gap, clearing the bases for a 4-1 lead.

"I was just trying to get a runner in and not do too much. I ended up hitting a double," Warden said. "I just kept everything the same. Nothing was different and I had a good at-bat. He started me out with a slider and came back with another slider. I busted it."

A single by Hunter Milam and a PikeView error allowed Warden to race home before Justin Williams capped the six-run outburst with an RBI-double.

"We were just stagnate getting off of the bus," PikeView head coach Josh Wyatt said. "In our two losses this year, we have given up those big innings to lead off the game. I told the guys coming in that records mean nothing. We all are 0-0 here."

"Independence had played an incredibly hard schedule," Wyatt went on to say. "They are well coached. They were putting balls where they were pitched. We just didn't make plays early. Even the balls that turned into hits, three or four balls should have been caught. Just disappointing to see us come out that way defensively."

The lead was 8-2 going to the fifth inning when the Panthers made some noise to get back in the game.

A single from Landon Bolen scored a pair runs and a double from Drew Damewood plated the third run of the inning.

However, a crucial defensive play by the Patriots prevented further damage and helped them escape the inning.

"Levi (Barnett) pitched really good. I think he got a little tired in the fifth inning. He hasn't gone that long yet this year. I think most of his outing have been one or two innings here or there," Cuthbert said. "We played really solid defense I thought. We made the one really nice double-play there in the fifth inning and we made some nice plays in the outfield. Defense overall this year has been good."

It was the last gasp for the visitors as Degan Williams came on to pitch two scoreless innings of no-hit baseball, striking out three Panthers.

"I thought that was the best Degan has pitched coming in there in relief. He has struggled to throw strikes at times early in the year," Cuthbert said. "If we can play like that, win or lose, and continue to hit the ball a little bit, it gives us a chance. It is a tough region this year."

Playing in a nine-team region this year along with Independence, Wyatt talked about how the loss could ultimately be beneficial for his team.

"You hate to lose regional games, but it is good for them to see that they have to show up and play every game," Wyatt said. "You can't expect wins to fall in your lap."