Panthers rebound from Prescott loss to top Osceola in 10 innngs

• Ellsworth Panthers

Ellsworth Panthers

Talk about it

OSCEOLA - After hitting rock bottom in a six inning loss to rival Prescott Thursday, Ellsworth rose back up to top Osceola in 10 innings on the road Friday.

The game was a make-up from one originally scheduled for last Tuesday. The win was Ellsworth's third of the season against four losses in Middle Border Conference play and five overall.

Junior Brady Schroeder and freshman Dennis Schutz picked up back-to-back RBI base hits with two outs in the top of the 10th inning Friday to lift the Panthers to victory.

Ellsworth coach Steve Block suggested that his team was finally able to score because of the momentum it gained in the bottom of the ninth.

Osceola loaded the bases with no outs that frame. It just needed to plate one runner for the walk-off win. However, Ellsworth sophomore starter James Georgakas didn't allow it to happen.

First, the Osceola runner on third got caught in a rundown when the batter failed to execute the suicide squeeze. Then, with runners on second and third, Georgakas struck out the next two batters.

"(We were) so fired up when we got out of the bases-loaded (jam)," Block said. "Our emotions carried us and we had a couple good at-bats."

Georgakas pitched the first nine innings. He struck out 11 and walked one. Osceola managed five hits off him and no runs.

"He was just outstanding," Block said. "He really pitched well. That's all I can say. So did their pitcher."

Chieftains pitcher Andrew Salewski threw all 10 innings and took the loss. He allowed just one earned run on five hits. He didn't walk an Ellsworth batter and struck out nine.

Schroeder earned the win in relief.

Ellsworth improved to 3-5 overall and 3-4 in the Middle Border Conference.

Tags: prep baseball, sports, prep, ellsworth