The Bonney Lake Panthers took the field for their second game of the season on Monday, welcoming the highly competitive West Seattle Wildcats in a non-league showdown. West Seattle, the defending 3A State Champion, came into the matchup with a reputation as one of the top programs in the state. With a 25-5 record last season and a first-place finish in the 3A Metro League, the Wildcats posed a significant challenge for the Panthers, who were adjusting to their first season in the 4A division. Despite the daunting task ahead, Bonney Lake took the field determined to prove themselves. but the Wildcats, ranked 17th in Pre Baseball’s Power 25, proved to be a tough opponent. Despite looming rain clouds and a charged atmosphere at Panther Field, Bonney Lake couldn’t overcome early defensive miscues, falling 5-1.
Senior left-handed pitcher Trent Blake got the start for the Panthers and came out dealing. Blake’s velocity kept the Wildcats off balance early, as he cruised through the first inning and made quick work in the second despite some trouble. A bases-loaded jam threatened to break things open, but Blake limited the damage, allowing only one run before escaping with a key strikeout.
Offensively, the Panthers struggled to find their rhythm against a disciplined West Seattle squad. They simply didn’t have an answer for Wildcats ace Jake McCall, who dominated on the mound, throwing a complete game with 12 strikeouts. In the third inning, Blake faced more adversity. With two outs, a pair of untimely errors led to two unearned runs, forcing head coach Mike Olson to call on senior Keegan Parker out of the bullpen. Parker limited the damage, but the Wildcats extended their lead to 4-0 before the inning came to a close.
Bonney Lake showed signs of life in the fifth when Parker made his presence known at the plate. The senior crushed a long double to the outfield, setting the stage for Eli Hubbard to drive him home with a sharp single. The Panthers were on the board, but the rally stalled there.
Parker continued his strong outing on the mound, striking out five over 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run. Sophomore Alex De La Cruz took over in the sixth, surrendering just one run, while senior Brody Sexton closed out the game in the seventh. The pitching staff held their own, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
With the 5-1 loss in the books, the Panthers drop to 0-2 on the season but will have a chance to bounce back on Wednesday, March 26th, when they return home for another matchup. Panther Nation, come out and show your support as Bonney Lake looks to get into the win column!
Box Score
Batting
Player | AB | R | BB | H | RBI | HR | 3B | 2B | SB |
Jeht Sibucao | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wyatt Vincent | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Evan Hellner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ryan Orcutt | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Karsten Ingersoll | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A Gailushas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Trent Blake | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Brody Sexton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Keegan Parker | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Jayden Ortiz-Ruiz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Eli Hubbard | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pitching
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | W | SV |
Trent Blake | 2.2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Keegan Parker | 2.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Alex De La Cruz | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Brody Sexton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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