The Crestwood Panthers had their first walk-off victory of the season on Thursday over the Joliet Generals.
The 9-8 win felt more like a roller coaster ride as Crestwood took an early 7-0 lead in the first inning before the Generals slowly chipped away throughout the day. In the top of the seventh, the Generals took an 8-7 lead on a two-run home run by DeShawntee Carraway.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers loaded the bases with one out on a single by Alex Las, Hobbs Dunne being hit by a pitch, and a Sergio Oliveres walk. Maurey Garrett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the ballgame setting up Joshua Aguiniga.
Aguiniga, who also had a two-run double in the first inning slapped a single into right field to score Dunne and win the ballgame. Aguiniga was subsequently mobbed by his teammates on the mound. Panthers manager D’Vante Glenn was pleased with his teams’ resilience.
“We always have life when we have another at-bat.” Glenn said, “We got the job done and got the win.”
The Panthers were shorthanded on this day with none of their normal pitchers available. Will Moell, a Munster High School graduate, started today and threw four innings in an impromptu start.
“Will held it together for us.” Glenn said, “I just wanted him to get the job done, which he did.”
Garrett, who began the game as a designated hitter, was responsible for the last three innings. It was his second pitching performance of the year, and he earned the win this time out.
“I just needed outs from him, and he got the job done.” Glenn said.
The Panthers seven-run first inning saw 11 men come to the plate, with eight different Panthers reaching base in the inning. Aside from Aguiniga’s RBI double, Las, Oliveres, Garrett, and Jimmy Gurgone each had RBI singles. Dunne also walked in a run.
The Panthers begin a stretch of three straight against the Chicago American Giants on Friday with game one being at the KROC Center at 7 p.m. For the full box score of this game, visit the Northern League Poinstreak page: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=577368