The Crestwood Panthers got back to the .500 mark at Legacy Fields in Crown Point, Indiana on Friday night with a win over the first-place Lake County Corn Dogs.

 

The 5-2 win was the first win the Panthers have ever had over the Northern League’s newest team. Head coach D’Vante Glenn was happy to see the Panthers earn a statement win over the first place Corn Dogs.

 

“I feel great.” Glenn said, “We had our whole staff, we had our great defense, and we were able to score runs when it counted.”

 

The Panthers got on the board first in the second inning after loading the bases with nobody out. Maurey Garret reached on a error scoring Hobbs Dunne, and Charlie Schau walked in Connor Janik with the bases loaded to make it 2-0 early.

 

After this, starter Erik Carlson settled in by pitching five brilliant innings giving up only one run on three hits while striking out four. Peter Fusek also showed off his arm in right field by throwing out Bret Matthyes trying to score on a Roman Kuntz single in the third.

 

However, the Corn Dogs tied the game up in the sixth on a Doug Loden single. The game remained a stalemate and went into extra innings.

 

In the 10^th inning, the Corn Dogs loaded the bases with one out on an error, a walk, and a single. Hayden Matulich flew out to Fusek, and Kuntz tried to score from third. A perfect throw from Fusek caught Kuntz trying to score to win the ballgame and kept the game going into the 11^th.

 

The throw gave Fusek his second outfield assist of the ballgame. Glenn loved to see Fusek show off his rocket arm.

 

“Peter has been one of our guys offensively and defensively this year.” Glenn said, “His defensive strengths showed today.”

 

In the top of the 11^th, Aydin Wright came up with men on second and third.  With an 0-2 count on him, a Baltimore chop and a wild throw allowed both Wright to reach first, and Joshua Aguiniga and Ray Hilbrich to score. Hobbs Dunne added an RBI single off the first base bag to pad the lead at 5-2.

 

“I was ready for [Wright] to put something in play, and he got exactly what we needed out of it.” Glenn said.

 

In the bottom of the 11^th, Justin Schassburger, in his first game back from injury, finished off his spectacular four inning relief appearance to earn his fourth win on the year. Schassburger struck out six in his appearance. Glenn loved the effort he got out of Schassburger.

 

“It was the Justin Schassburger we have seen on the mound before.” Glenn said.

 

The Panthers play next on Saturday at noon at the KROC Center in Chicago, Illinois against the Chicago American Giants. The Panthers are 5-2 against the Giants this season.