The Ouachita Citizen
Today is Thursday, May 23rd, 2013Subscribe Today!
Home · News · Columns · Editorials · Letters to Editor · Sports · Tempo · Obituaries · Public Notices
Main Menu
• Home
• Links of Interest
• Pictorial History
• Polls & Surveys
• Public Notices
• Read Our E-Edition
• Recommend Us
• RSS Feeds
• Search Our Site
• Site Statistics
• Story Archives
• Top 5 Most Popular
• Contact Us

Ads by Google

Current Poll
Should members of the LSU Board of Supervisors disclose who receives their scholarships?
Yes
No
Don't Care
No Opinion

View Results
Story Archives: Evangel outlasts Panthers in title game


Evangel outlasts Panthers in title game
by Cody Futrell - posted Thursday, May 14th, 2009 @ 11:47 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
The Sterlington Panthers had the hits when they needed them all season long. They also were able to ride the arm of Chad Reeves all season long.

On Wednesday night, with the Class 2A championship on the line, things just did not go the way of the Panthers.

Evangel scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning and resisted every comeback Sterlington had in them for a 3-1 victory and the Class 2A championship.

Junior pitcher Bronson Gillam was the starting and winning pitcher for Evangel as he went seven complete innings, allowing just three hits and one run.

Gillam (13-1) was the flame-throwing right-hander the Panthers knew they would have to beat to claim the school's first ever baseball state championship. On Wednesday, Gillam brought the heat and Sterlington left stunned.

"We have been able to get the timely hits all season long," Sterlington coach David Parks said. "We just could not tonight. It just was not our night. Give a lot of credit to Evangel, their pitcher was outstanding. The best pitcher we have seen this year."

Sterlington turned to their ace as well. Senior lefty Chad Reeves pitched 45 pitches Tuesday to get Sterlington by St. Thomas Aquinas and then came back Wednesday for 117 more pitches.

It was obvious the all-state candidate had fatigue issues by the third inning and Evangel took advantage for the three spot in the third. Amazingly, "superman" as his team calls him was able to go the distance and hold Evangel scoreless over the final four innings.

Evangel held Sterlington in check for the first three innings. Then, all nine Evangel batters in the lineup got a chance to hit as Evangel opened up the hit parade.

Kade Garlington got the Eagles going with a single to left field. Conner Castellano and Seth Bamberg also recorded singles in the inning.

Reeves got into trouble with three walks in the inning and Evangel grabbed the commanding lead.

With the sell-out crowd mostly behind them, the Panthers rallied as they have all season. Clay Branton began the fourth inning with a single for Sterlington.

Logan Dopson then reached on a throwing error by Evangel. The bases were then loaded when Gillam hit Clint Branton of Sterlington.

"I am just so proud to be from Sterlington," Parks said. "The support and the love they have shown to us in the playoffs has been unbelievable. The guys really got fired up with the fans behind them."

Francis Rodriguez picked up the lone Sterlington RBI with a sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded.

With runners at second and third two more times in the game, Evangel settled down and ended the Sterlington threat.

Sterlington will now regroup after a fantastic 26-8 season which included another district 2-2A championship.

Five seniors: Cole Bagby, Stephen Gandy, Thomas Giddens, Chad Reeves, and Francis Rodriguez leave the Sterlington program in much better shape than when they first arrived on campus.

"Those guys are irreplaceable," Parks said. "We have an exciting freshman team that is working hard and over the summer we hope to get some kids ready to step up and continue our success."
Search Our Site

Advertising

Local Weather
© 2002-2013 The Ouachita Citizen - All Rights Reserved
Web Site Design by Panther Networks, Inc.