Panthers perfect after four league games
The Panthers varsity baseball team opened Mid-Willamette Conference play with four straight wins.
They swept both Lebanon (3-2 and 7-2) and South Albany (9-1, 5-1). Three of these wins came last week, as the schedule is back to normal after the annual spring break disruption.
According to coach Ben Kramer, Panthers pitchers Isaiah Sanchez, Derek Brinton and Jackson Barba have dominated from the mound, allowing only one earned run in four league games.
Offensively, Joe Mendazona isn’t perfect at the plate, but he’s close enough. The freshman is batting .816 in league with 4 RBIs and 7 runs scored in four games.
Central (4-0, 10-2 overall) travels to Silverton this afternoon (Monday) and then hosts the Foxes Wednesday at 5 p.m. This week concludes with a Friday trip to top-ranked West Albany.
All three games begin at 5 p.m.
The Panthers are ranked ninth by the OSAA. The team’s only losses came against Beaverton, the ninth-ranked Class 6A school, at last month’s Nelson Spring Break Tournament.