Panners Topple Athletes
June 17, 2000, Daily News-Miner
By RICHARD LARSON
Jonah Martin tripled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Panners rallied to beat Athletes in Action 5-2 on Friday at Growden Memorial Park.
One night after overcoming a 2-0 deficit only to lose in 14 innings, the Panners rallied from a 2-1 deficit, putting the game away in their last two at-bats.
"I love it. That definitely was big for us," said Panners' pitcher Barry Matthews, who picked up the win with five scoreless innings of relief.
"This was a big confidence booster for us today. Hopefully we will come back and play well again tomorrow."
The Goldpanners conclude their series with AIA today at 7 p.m. at Growden Park.
The Panners were held to one run on three singles through the first five innings of play on Friday. In the last three innings they ripped seven hits, including a double and a triple, and scored four runs.
"I'm glad the position players came through," Matthews said. "They are the ones that came back and won it."
Second baseman Brooks Conrad doubled with one out and scored on a single by catcher Greg Sain to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth. Rightfielder Jonah Martin then tripled deep to center field to score left fielder Chad Redfern with two outs in the seventh, giving the Panners a 3-2 lead.
"That was great. When Jonah hit that triple it really sparked us as a team," Matthews said.
The Panners added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth when third baseman Jack Wickersham, Conrad and first baseman Ryan Johnson strung together consecutive singles to lead off the frame.
Conrad's single was perhaps the most impressive hit of the night. With Wickersham on second, Conrad bunted down the first base line to try to advance the runner. Conrad's bunt rolled right down the chalk line, never straying foul, and eventually hit the first base bag while three AIA players watched.
"That was a great bunt," Matthews said. "He's a great player, who has many skills. That was a great bunt right down the line, that had eyes."
Matthews started the game playing first base, but took the mound for the top of the fifth after Panners' starter Adam Heaps surpassed a preset pitch limit of 60. Matthews struck out five, walked four and allowed just one hit in five innings of work.
Matthews set the side down in order in his first inning of work, but had to battle out of jams the rest of the way as AIA put the lead-off runner on base in three of the last four innings.
AIA took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Mel Stocker drew a lead-off walk, advanced to third on a single by Eddie Lang and scored on a ground out by Joseph Peer.
The Goldpanners tied the game in the third when Kaulana Kuhaulua reached base on a bunt single, went to third on a single by Redfern and scored on a sacrifice fly by Martin.
AIA regained a one-run lead in the fourth, taking advantage of three walks and a throwing error by Heaps. A bases loaded walk by Stocker forced in Ryan Anderson with the go-ahead run.
A great play by Panners' third baseman/coach Wickersham helped the Panners' get out of the inning without further damage. Wickersham dove to his left to spear a wicked liner by Lang, then threw to second base to double off Casey Walkup.
Brooks, Johnson and Redfern each finished with two hits for the Panners, who had 10 hits in the game. Martin was 1 for 3 with two RBIs. Sain and Matthews each drove in runs.
* PANNER NUGGETS: A night after stranding 13 runners in scoring position, the Panners left just four runners on base. ... AIA turned four double plays in the game and the Panners had a pair of twin killings. ... Barry Matthews twice hit into 3-6-1 double plays to end innings. ... For the second straight game Mel Stocker got on base to lead off the first inning for AIA and came around to score the first run of the contest. ... Goldpanners pitchers combined to walk 10 batters in the game, but allowed just four hits.
