Despite being in the middle of a global pandemic, the St. Joseph Middle School baseball team began regional play on Tuesday afternoon at home against the Fisher Bunnies, making easy work of their guests 12-3.
Jared Altenbaumer took the mound for the Panthers, and after getting an easy groundout to start the game, ran into a little trouble by loading the bases before getting a key strikeout and then, a fly out to right fielder Logan Rosenthal to end the inning without allowing any runs to score.
In the bottom of the first inning, St. Joseph exploded for six runs, getting things started with a double off the bat of Rosenthal, and after a walk to James Barron, Altenbaumer doubled them both home and later scored himself on a single by Bryson Houchens. After Landen Butts was hit by a pitch and Will Haley drew a base on balls, Kendrick Johnson laced a two-run double and then scored later in the inning on a single by Cam Schluter. Altenbaumer would have all the run support that he would need.
Altenbaumer once again found himself in trouble in the top of the second inning as he allowed two runs to score in the inning, but got out of the inning, and the Panthers led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the second inning.
St. Joseph tacked on another run in the bottom of the third inning as Rosenthal hit an inside-the-park home run, flying around the bases. Altenbaumer’s day on the mound was done, as Houchens took over in the top of the fourth inning.
Houchens settled down the Fisher bats, only allowing one run in his three innings of relief. During that span, the Panthers added runs in each of the innings, taking a commanding 12-3 lead into the final inning of play.
Johnson took over in the top of the seventh inning, and made quick work of the Bunnies, sending St. Joseph into the championship game of the regional on Saturday.
The Panthers will play Gibson City-Melvin Sibley, who defeated LeRoy 13-0 on Tuesday afternoon in Gibson City.
Saturday’s game against GCMS will be at the St. Joseph Middle School and is slated for a 10:00 am first pitch.
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