2A top-ranked Hagerstown saw its 16-game win streak snapped on Thursday, May 2, by the Knightstown Panthers. The Tigers twice overcame Panther leads to tie the score, but the Panthers scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-5 lead and the Tigers could not answer.
Both teams hit the ball well and both played well defensively. Back-to-back two-out hits from Kelton Weaver and Braylon Johnson in the top of the seventh inning gave the Panthers the lead for good. The loss was the first of the season for Hagerstown and their first loss in Tri-Eastern Conference play.
Both teams used three different pitchers. Carter Gossett was the winning pitcher; Ben Williams took the loss. Johnson, Travis Louks and Brayden McDaniel each had two hits. Collin Beaty, Kayne Ervin and Gavin Walter each had two hits for Hagerstown.
The Tigers now only have a one-game lead in the TEC race, with games remaining against Centerville and Union City—two of the teams tied for second.
Knightstown (9-5, 3-2 TEC) 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 7
Hagerstown (16-1, 5-1 TEC) 1 0 3 0 0 1 0 5
Knightstown hits: Bryce Gorman, Johnson (2), Louks (2), Brock Loveall, McDaniel (2), Jadyn Page, Weaver. Hagerstown hits: Beaty (2), Wyatt Burris, Carter Craig, Ervin (2), Walter (2).
A version of this article appeared in the May 8 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.