By Fred Kroner
fred@mahometnews.com
The Mustangs opened postseason play on Tuesday (Sept. 22) with a 5-2 Class 1A IESA regional semifinal victory over Rossville-Alvin in Royal.
PVO ended with five hits, but three were sent for extra bases.
Coy Hayes slammed a home run and knocked in two runs. Parker Fitch and Logan Lackey each delivered triples.
Lackey had two hits and one RBI. Kodey McKinney, who stole five bases, had the other PVO hit.
James Huisinga’s sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the fourth inning drove in the run that snapped a 1-1 deadlock.
The Mustangs’ runs were scored by Lackey, Fitch, Hayes, McKinney and Dalton York.
Fitch and Lackey shouldered the pitching load.
Fitch worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two walks. He struck out 12. Lackey threw 2 1/3 innings, permitting one hit, walking one and striking out four.
PVO (10-2) concluded the regular season on Thursday (Sept. 22) against Schlarman Academy – the same opponent it will face in the upcoming regional title game – and secured a 6-3 win in Danville.
Fitch (4-1) pitched a complete-game three-hitter. He walked no one and struck out six during his seven innings on the mound.
Fitch and Lackey each pounded three hits against Schlarman. They drove in runs – as did Hayes – during a three-run sixth inning that lifted the Mustangs into a 6-1 lead.
Fitch ended with three RBI and Lackey totaled two RBI.
McKinney swiped two bases and scored twice. Hayes also crossed home plate two times.
The Class 1A regional title game on Saturday (Sept. 26) against Schlarman Academy will start at 10 a.m. in Royal.
