Pioneers Pounce on Panthers

4A State Tournament Bracket

AAAA State Tournament Semi Finals, Tuesday 5/6 at Nettleton HS:
Nettleton vs Sylvan Hills - 4:00 PM
Batesville vs Greene County Tech - 6:30 PM

published Tuesday, May 6, 2003

The Greenbrier Panthers are resting at home now, their dreams of advancing to the semi finals smashed by the strength and determination of the Batesville Pioneers. Strong hitting and heads up play in the field combined with a diet of Burba's Special "K's" (12 of them in total) proved to be too much for the #1 rated team from the 4A West conference. My prediction that three 4A east teams would be in the semi finals has been proven to be accurate with Nettleton, Batesville and Greene County Tech remaining, while Sylvan Hills remains as the lone representative of the other 3 conferences. After the dust settles tonight, I forsee a Nettleton - Batesville showdown in Baum Stadium on Saturday, May 10.

Both teams brought their best with Burba pitching for the Pioneers and Berry on the mound for Greenbrier. The visiting Pioneers batted first, but were unable to reach base with 2 ground outs and a K.

Greenbrier fared no better with their first batter giving up an out after a great effort by left fielder Fuqua, a K and another fly ball to end the inning.

The Pioneers reach base first when Fletcher walks with 1 out but is left on on a K and a ground out.

Panthers lead off batter Moreland reaches on a dropped third strike K. Two more strikeouts and a ground out will leave him on 2nd.

A 2 out single by Francis will be the Pioneers first hit of the game. He steals 2nd and is joined by Smith with a single. They will be left on the corners on a fly out.

Panther lead off Johns will be gunned down by a great Rogers - Gatlin relay, and Burba will close the inning with 2 more K's.

Pioneer batters Burba and Fletcher lead off with singles. Courtesy runner Yeager will score from second on Skinner's double. Fletcher will score on a close play at home after a wild pitch which will advance Skinner to 3rd. Skinner will be left out attempting home after a missed bunt attempt on a squeeze play. Davis walks, and is joined by Rhodes on a HP, but both are left on after a fly out.

Greenbrier batter Berry reaches on a 1 out single but is put out by a Moreland fielders choice. Two consecutive infield errors will load the bases with 2 outs, but Burba delivers a very timely K to leave the Panthers scoreless again.

Lead off Pioneers Smith and Gatlin single and Smith scores on Burba's Sac Fly. Fletcher reaches on a fielders choice leaving Gatlin out at 2nd, and is joined by Fuqua with a walk. With a 1 - 0 count on Skinner, Panther pitcher Berry is relieved by Leding who ends the inning with a fly out.

The Panthers go down on a ground out, K, and a great Gatlin dive and flip to Burba for the last out.

All 3 Pioneer batters put the ball in play, but are unable to reach base safely.

Panther lead off Lasley reaches on an HP. The Pioneers attempt to put him out at 2nd when Berry hits a ground ball but they are unable to relay the ball and both runners advance to 3rd and 2nd. Moreland strikes out, but Rowlett singles to score Lasley. A K and a ground out will end the inning with 2 Panthers left on.

The Pioneers go down in order with 2 K's and a ground out.

Burba issues his last 2 (of 12) K's to 2 Panther pinch hitters. Their lead off batter Gaither offers their only hope of staying in the game with a long fly ball to center field. It is nicely caught by Smith to end Greenbrier's season and advance the Pioneers to the next round.