Crestwood, Ill. – July 29, 2020 – In an oddly reminiscent fashion of Tuesday’s victory over DuPage County, the Crestwood Panthers (11-10), on Wednesday, plated eight runs in the fourth inning, plus used four different pitchers in order to defeat the Joliet Generals (3-17) 10-9. 

For reference, Tuesday’s victory saw Crestwood strike for 10 runs in the sixth inning against the Hounds, despite entering the frame trailing 4-3. On Wednesday, the situation was almost duplicated, as the Panthers fell behind 4-0 leading up to that faithful fourth inning. Crestwood was already on their second pitcher, and the offense had yet to record a hit before the chaos ensued. Kevin Coe (Eastern Kentucky / Chicago, Ill.) initiated the comeback, beginning the inning with a double to center field. Then, following an Andrew Tenison (Moraine Valley CC / Orland Park, Ill.) walk, Tim Fauth (North Park University / Elk Grove Village, Ill.) lined a double to left field, plating Coe. In the very next at-bat, D’Vante Glenn (Coe College / Chicago, Ill.) posted a two-RBI single to pull Crestwood within one. That brought up Lawrence Noble (Coppin State / University / Chicago, Ill.), who officially gave the Panthers the lead, driving in Alex Simon (Augustana College / Hinsdale, Ill.) and the aforementioned Glenn.  

The offensive barrage continued for Crestwood, as Donavan Noble (South Suburban College / Chicago, Ill.) and Ray Hilbrich (Purdue University-Northwest / Schererville, Ind.) each added RBI singles, and Coe, who batted for the second time in the inning, further contributed with an RBI-sacrifice fly. All in all, the Panthers scored their eight runs on eight hits, and sent 13 hitters to the plate in the fourth.  

Crestwood’s offense would, however, go quiet for the remainder of the game, prompting the team’s bullpen to calm the Generals’ bats. Ayden Head (Kenyon College / Clarendon Hills, Ill.) pitched three strong innings of two-run baseball, then Simon, who was originally in the field, dealt a scoreless seventh. To close the game, Tenison, who also played in the field to begin, turned in a gutsy two-inning performance that, in the end, earned him his second save of the season.  

For the Panthers, the win on Wednesday marks their eighth over their past 10 games. Crestwood will look to continue that success on Thursday afternoon, as they oppose the MCL Minutemen from Andrean High School. Coverage begins at 5 p.m. on the Panthers’ Broadcast Network, available via Facebook Live.