Starks Panthers fall in quarterfinals

Submitted by Delilah Gibson

The Starks Panthers baseball team upset #3 Calvin in a 7-3 victory in the Regional Playoff on Monday, Apr. 29.

The game was tied at two – Starks up to bat in the top of sixth when Conner Buxton singled bringing in two runs. Starks put in three runs in the seventh inning.

Offense, in the seventh, came from a triple by Tommy LeDoux and a triple by Jude Thompson. Kadyn Howard pitched three innings for the Panthers striking out four and allowing only two hits and one run. Tommy LeDoux threw four innings in relief. Garrett Humphrey started the game for Starks and surrendered one run on zero hits, walking one. The Panthers totaled 11 hits. Conner Buxton, Tommy LeDoux and Peyton Williams each had multiple hits. The Panthers stole eight bases during the game and did not commit a single error in the field.

The regional win advanced Starks to the LHSAA State Quarterfinal Playoff for the second consecutive year.

Starks hosted the LHSAA State Quarterfinal Playoff for the first in the school’s history on Friday, May 3, when they faced #2 Simpson. The Starks team did not take the win but took the experience and the accomplishment of another quarterfinal match.

Head Coach Chad Bebee stated, “We will have another chance to make baseball history next year. The boys should be proud of the season. They made it back to the quarterfinals for the second year in a row.”

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