Panthers dominate Port Barre to begin district schedule

By: LANCE REED

Sports Editor

The Pine Prairie High School baseball team pounded the Port Barre Red Devils 8-2 Thursday afternoon. The Panthers got an outstanding pitching performance from Brandon Guillory on the hill. He went all seven innings, allowing only two runs and fanning three batters. Guillory was tapped for six hits.

Zack Blood got things started in the top of the first inning with a one-out single. Jonathan Fontenot followed with a walk. Bryant Firmin drove both runners home with a double. Firmin scored on a single from Guillory.

The Panthers got another run in the top of the fourth frame. Fontenot walked and later crossed the plate and Guillory’s second hit of the night. The Red Devils answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.

However, it was not enough to take the momentum from the Panthers.

Pine Prairie scored another run in the top of the sixth inning. Blood hit a solo home run with one out, making it a 5-1 ball game. The Panthers picked up three insurance runs in the top of the seventh frame. Guillory led off the inning with a walk and Caleb West singled behind. Both runners moved over thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Kyle Maricle. Trevor LeBlanc hit into a fielder’s choice that pushed Guillory home. One out later, West and LeBlanc crossed the dish on a double from Blood.

Port Barre answered in the bottom of the first with one out, but Guillory managed to retire the side and get the Panthers a crucial district victory.