In what was scheduled to the first of 2 games for the Brewers, the Panthers came back from a 5-0 deficit in yet another close battle between these two teams. Neither team scored in the 1st frame as Max Stencer for the Panthers and Serge Bealieu for the Brewers each started well.
The Brewers struck in the 2nd inning though, as Joe Beelen hit an RBI single and then Matt Beelen hit a 2 RBI single to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Bealieu continued to roll with a 3 up 3 down second inning. The Brewers tacked on another run in the third when Dave Rivers hit a line drive double down the left field line to score Keith Blouin from 1st. Beaulieu once again cruised through the bottom of the third getting the first 9 batters out.
In the top of the fourth, Jon Zywicki led off with a bloop double where confusion reigned and reached 3rd on the same play on an errant throw. Jason Krottner later hit Zywicki in with a single through a drawn in infield to give the Brewers a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the 4th, Bealieu's bubble burst as he walked the first 2 batters of the inning. Then after Altherr hit a bloop single the bases were loaded. After getting a strike out, Bealieu's wildness returned and he walked Nathan Thompson to force in a run. Then Jeff Dawson hit a deep sac fly to center to score Chris Kohli. After walking another batter, Bealieu was able to get out of the inning giving up 2 runs.
In the 5th, the Panthers continued there momentum as the Brewers went out quietly and the Panthers chased Bealieu out of the game. Matt Beelen came in with runners on first and second and nobody out. He was able to induce a double play ground ball, but the the Panthers scored a run on the play to make it 5-3 going into the 6th. The Brewers once again went out quietly in the 6th and the Panthers looked to take the lead in the bottom of the inning.
The Brewers obliged by making 3 errors and giving up 4 hits in the inning, highlited by a Jeff Dawson RBI double, a Rob Lay RBI single and ugly Brewers defence to make the score 8-5. Nathan Thompson, who had come in to pitch the 6th, then looked to close the game out in the top of seventh. After the Brewers were able to score 1 run, and then load the bases with one out, they couldn't get the clutch hit and stranded the bases loaded to end the game and give the Panthers an 8-6 win.
Unfortunately, the Red Sox defaulted the next game so the Brewers only played one of the two scheduled games.
Player of the Game: Jeff Dawson....batting : 1/2, 2 RBI, double, sac
fly, and some nice plays at 3rd base.
| NCBL HOME |