BASEBALL: Jr. Panthers knocked out by Trico

The Junior Panthers fell behind early and never fully recovered at Tuesday's baseball regional in Christopher, falling 9-6 to Trico to end their 2015 season.

Trico used three singles and a walk to manufacture three runs in the top of the second inning and led the rest of the way. Two more hits tacked on a fourth run in the top of the third before PInckneyville got on the board in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs after three consecutive hits from Hunter Riggins, Devin Kitchen (RBI double) and Dalton Kitchen.

The Pioneers continued to pile on the offense against Riggins, the PJHS starting pitcher, scoring on a triple and ground-ball out in the fourth. Down 5-2, the Junior Panthers chipped away a run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Riggins singled and scored on an RBI hit by Dalton Kitchen.

Trico took advantage of two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the top of the sixth with a pair of doubles and a single to create some separation on the scoreboard and led 9-3.

Pinckneyville made one last rally in the bottom of the seventh with their season on the line. Wyatt Gale delivered a two-out, bases-clearing, three-run double to cut the lead to three, but he would wind up stranded at second base.

The Junior Panthers had seven hits, but only from from the bottom two-thirds of the lineup. Riggins (2-4), Gale (1-3, 3 RBI, 2B), Devin Kitchen (1-3, RBI, 2B) and Dalton Kitchen (3-4, RBI) each hit safely for PJHS.