Panthers blitz Red Devils with offense

By: LANCE REED

Sports Editor

When a team collects 13 hits in a ball game, it can be called an offensive explosion. That is exactly what happened Tuesday when the Pine Prairie Panthers hosted the Port Barre Red Devils. The Panthers let the metal fly as they picked up another crucial 9-1 district victory.

Bryant Firmin (3-4, DB, HR, 3 RBIs) led off the game with a double to center field. Zack Blood (2-4) singled behind him, putting runners on second and third bases. Jonathan Fontenot (2-4, HR) reached on an error to load the bases. A walk to Robert Vidrine pushed a run across the plate and a single from Trevor LeBlanc (2-4) scored another run.

Port Barre cut the lead in half with a leadoff home run in the top of the second inning. It would be the only run pitcher Caleb West would allow.

In the bottom of the second inning, Pine Prairie grabbed a pair of runs. Brandon Guillory singled to begin the inning. One out later, Blood picked up his second hit of the game. A double from Ashton Dupre pushed both runners home, making it a 4-1 contest.

The Panthers took command of the game with a trio of runs in the bottom of the third inning. West hit a one-out single and scored on a double from Kyle Maricle. Firmin blasted the first pitch he saw for a two-run home run, pushing the score to 7-1.

In the bottom of the fourth frame, Jonathan Fontenot connected for a solo home run. The shot came when he had no balls and two strikes. One more run scored in the bottom of the frame. Kaleb Johnson walked and scored on a single from Firmin.

West got the win on the mound. He went the seven-inning distance, scattering seven hits and fanning nine batters.

The Panthers now stand at 5-1 in district and travel to Mamou this afternoon. They then travel to Iota Saturday for a non-district contest with the Bulldogs.