Big fourth inning lifts Panther baseball team

PACKWOOD ? Thanks to hard hitting and a patient approach at the plate, six hits was more than enough to lift Pekin over conference rival Winfield-Mount Union on Tuesday.

The Panthers took advantage of six errors and five free passes en route to blasting the Wolves 16-1 in Packwood.

The big four-inning win was the first for Pekin in 2012. The Panthers opened the season Monday with a 4-3 loss to Highland.

What impressed Pekin head coach Jeff Eeling most Tuesday wasn?t the hards hits or plate discipline, though, but the team?s baserunning and aggressiveness.

?One of the things about this team I?ve underestimated is the team speed,? the coach said. ?We have some bigger guys, but we?re pretty quick.?

Graham Wittrock led the Panthers from the plate with three hits, including a double, on four plate appearances. Bailey Donovan was 1-3 with two runs batted in, and the senior had a big hit in the final inning that ?broke Winfield?s back,? Eeling added.

From the mound, Tater Clubb pitched all four innings, allowing one earned run with six strikeouts and four walks issued.

The Panthers (1-1, 1-1 SEISC north) continue their busy week at home with a contest against New London tonight.

Pekin vs. Winfield-Mount Union

W-MU ? 0 1 0 0 ? 1 4 6

PEKIN ? 1 2 2 11 ? 16 6 1

PEKIN ? G. Wittrock 3-4, 2B, RBI; Donovan 1-3, 2RBI; Morales 1-1, 2RBI; Slaney 1-1, 2B

Pitching ? Clubb (W) 4 INN, 4 H, 4 BB, ER, 6 K