Panthers shut out Pioneers

ROCKFORD - A seven-run first inning was more than plenty for Parkway pitcher Carson Ford as the junior pitched a one-hit shutout in beating Temple Christian 10-5 in five innings in the opening game of the Division IV baseball sectional at Don Black Field in Rockford.

The Panthers (11-9) face MAC rival St. Henry on Wednesday in the sectional final. Parkway lost 6-1 last Tuesday in conference play.

Ford allowed just a walk to Nathaniel White and then a single to Brendan Draper in the third inning. Later in the fifth, White reached on a dropped third strike and a bad throw in attempting the putout.

"He shoved it for us," Parkway coach Luke Clouse said. "He gave up one hit, an error and a walk. That's what we need from him every outing."

Parkway put the game in its pocket in the bottom of the first as Bailey Rodriguez led off with a single. Clayton Agler followed with a single to score Rodriguez and Jensen Riley tripled in Agler. Alec Schoenleben completed the string of four straight hits with an RBI single before Brody Bowman was able to get an out for the Pioneers. Back-to-back walks to Logan Huff and Derrick Mosier were followed by a single by Trace Walls to score Schoenleben. Huff scored on a wild pitch and Walls rounded out the scoring on a throwing error.

"We didn't hit all that well in our 12-inning (win) over Marion," Clouse said. "It was nice to see the bats wake up today and hopefully build for the week."

Parkway added another run in the second on Ford's RBI single to score Schoenleben. Bowman got through the fourth unscathed before the Panthers scored two more runs in the fourth to trigger the run-rule. Schoenleben singled in Riley and then came home on Huff's RBI single.

Schoenleben went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four stolen bases as the Panthers finished with nine swipes in the contest. Agler added two hits.

"We were focused today," Clouse said. "We haven't had that every (game). Today we were ready to go."

After the walk and hit in the third, Ford retired seven straight before White reached on the dropped strike three with two out in the fifth. Ford rebounded quickly by gtetting Draper to line out to Mosier at first to end the game. Ford finished with four strikeouts.