Hellner’s Two-Run Blast Sparks Hope, but Panthers Fall Short Against Jaguars

Evan Hellner - 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBI's

After weeks of relentless rain and heavy clouds hanging over Bonney Lake, spring finally decided to make an appearance—just in time for baseball. Rays of sunshine cut through the clouds and warmed the diamond as the Panthers hosted the Emerald Ridge Jaguars in a much-needed Spring Break matchup.

Bonney Lake entered the game with a 4-8 record, looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Olympia. Emerald Ridge rolled into Panther territory at an even 6-6, fresh off a dramatic 10-inning win over Curtis. The dugouts were buzzing, and the stands were packed with fans craving both sunshine and a Panthers rally.

Wyatt Vincent - 7 Innings complete game, 4 ER, 4 Strikeouts, 0 Walks.

Senior ace Wyatt Vincent took the mound for Bonney Lake, hoping to set the tone early. But it was the Jaguars who came out swinging. A pair of early defensive miscues combined with a flurry of well-placed hits helped Emerald Ridge jump to a 5-0 lead in the opening frame. They tacked on another in the second, quieting the home crowd with a 6-0 advantage before the Panthers could settle in.

Then came the spark.

In the bottom of the second, Ayden Lilley drove in a much-needed RBI to give the Panthers their first run and a jolt of energy. The following inning, Evan Hellner stepped up with Eli Hubbard on first and turned on a fastball, sending it screaming over the right-field fence. The two-run bomb made it 3-7 and gave the Panthers new life.

Ayden Lilley - 1 for 2, 1 RBI

From that point on, Vincent settled in and was lights-out. The senior hurler went the distance, shutting down the Jaguars through the final innings. He mixed pitches with precision and showed poise on the mound, keeping the Panthers within striking distance.

But the offense couldn’t string together the hits they needed. Despite a few chances with runners on in the fifth and sixth innings, the Panthers came up empty. The scoreboard didn’t budge. Final score: Emerald Ridge 7, Bonney Lake 3.

It was a frustrating loss, but not without highlights—Hellner’s moonshot, Lilley’s early spark, and Vincent’s resilience on the hill gave the home team plenty to build on.

The Panthers won’t have to wait long for redemption. They’re back in action this morning with an 11 a.m. home game against Olympia. With the sun finally shining and their ace showing grit, the Panthers are primed for a bounce-back. See you at the ballpark.

Box Score

Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR	3B	2B	SB
Eiyan Guitierrez	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Eli Hubbard	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Evan Hellner	3	1	1	2	1	1	0	0	0
Karsten Ingersoll	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Wyatt Vincent	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ryan Orcutt	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Brody Sexton	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Jeht Sibucao	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Austin Gailushas	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Ayden Lilley	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0

Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	W	SV
Wyatt Vincent	7.0	12	7	4	0	4	0	0