Early deficit leads to loss for Creston baseball vs. Winterset

After an early lead the Panthers lost their momentum and fell 8-2 to the Winterset Huskies at home Thursday.

In the first inning the Panthers were able to quickly score two with consecutive RBI singles from Gannon Greenwalt and Kyle Strider. The Panthers had a few errors in the second as Winterset answered back scoring five of their own.

Both teams fought hard and no one scored in the third inning. Then Winterset scored one in the fourth. The fifth and sixth also saw no runners across the plate.

In the seventh inning the Huskies scored two more but the Panther’s defense had its moment. Senior Cole Strider caught a fly ball hit toward centerfield and threw it to home for the tag out. That momentum did not convert for the Panthers at the plate as Creston was unable to score.

Despite the loss, head coach Jaden Driskell was not disappointed with the team’s performance.

“We battled all night and found ways to keep us in the game even to the end,” Driskell said. “I love the way our guys are competing right now, I feel good where we’re at.”

Driskell explained he was happy with their performance at the plate against one of the better pitchers in the state. Winterset’s Justin Hackett who threw 13 strikeouts during the game and only allowed the Panthers four hits. Creston drew just one walk.

Strider pitched two and one-third innings and struck out two. Winterset finished with 13 hits and drew five walks. The Huskies struck out three times.

The Panthers (7-19) host ADM (8-15) for a 7:30 p.m. game Monday. Creston finishes the regular season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Council Bluffs Jefferson (0-27). Creston’s first round substate game is 7 p.m. July 16 at Boone (18-9).