Game #2
The Panthers were looking to even up the series on this night with Kelly Doell starting against Kanata's Mike Watters. Doell got through the first inning unscathed even though he gave up 3 singles. After Watters easily put down three in a row, Kanata came up again looking to put pressure on Doell...and that they did. After Rob Hopewell doubled to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, Dan Altherr threw the ball into center field trying to pick him off of second base thus allowing the first run of the game to score. Doell though stayed calm and got out of the inning without allowing any more damage.
The Panthers got 2 base runners in the second but that was all and Doell went into the 3rd inning having given up 5 hits and 2 walks already. The next 4 innings though proved to be smooth sailing for Doell as he gave up just 3 hits and no walks from the 3rd to the 6th in keeping Kanata to just their lone run. The Panthers were able to tie the game in the 3rd Keith Bray singled, stole second, and got to 3rd on a wild pitch, he then scored on a Kanata error to make the score 1-1.
In the 4th, the Panthers finally got to Watters all with 2 outs. With runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 out, Steve Smith hit a pinch hit blooper to left field to give the Panthers the lead. Bray then followed with a blooper of his own to left field to score Chris Kohli from 2nd. Al Kohli then kept the rally alive by hitting a line drive single to right center field to score Smith and make the score 4-1.
The Panthers kept the momentum in the 5th, after Steve Tsonos led off with a single. A single, error, stolen base, 2 fielder's choices and a Chris Kohli double later resulted in 2 more Panther runs and the end of Watters night on the mound as Hugh Kellam came in to get the final out. The game then went into the 7th with the Panthers sitting on a 6-1 lead.
Kanata looked to make things interesting when Rob Hopewell reached on an error, and then Shawn Hopewell hit a single. After Jeff Dawson robbed Chad Hopewell of a bloop single to center, Jeff Rawson ripped a 2 RBI double over Dawson's head to score the 2 runners and make the score 6-3. Doell though bounced back and was able to get Kellam to pop out. Marc Charbonneau then came in to strike out Watters to end the game in favour of the Panthers.
Player of the Game : Kelly Doell
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