Panthers capture IESA Class 2A Regional Championship
By FRED KRONER
Top-seeded St. Joseph received banner pitching performances in both the semifinals and finals and annexed an IESA Class 2A baseball regional championship on their home field.
In the semifinals on Saturday (Sept. 16), the Panthers defeated fifth-seeded Oakwood, 9-2. In the finals on Monday (Sept. 18), St. Joseph edged second-seeded Bismarck-Henning, 5-4.
The Panthers (11-6) will play their sectional at home and take on Iroquois West (16-1) on Saturday (Sept. 23) with a berth in the state tournament on the line.
Against Bismarck-Henning, Ryder VanMeenen threw a seven-inning complete game. He allowed five hits and one walk while registering a season-high 10 strikeouts.
St. Joseph snapped a 4-4 tie by pushing across the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lucas Barton, Hunter Cler and Ike Shalato all punched two hits. Barton tallied two runs.
Against Oakwood, Brock Franzen and Shelato teamed up for the pitching win.
Franzen went 6 1/3 innings, permitting three hits and two walks. He fanned a season-high 11 batters.
Shelato was summoned and retired the only two batters he faced, one by strikeout.
VanMeenen and Kiptyn Rosenthal each ripped three hits. Rosenthal crossed home plate twice. Barton drove in two runs.
Oakwood scored twice in the top of the first inning and held a 2-1 lead until the Panthers recorded a five-run third inning.
St. Joseph has a three-game winning streak. After the win against B-H, the Panthers are 2-2 this season in one-run games.
