Panthers top Rockets, Cardinals
Royall's Allen Roscovius makes it safely to second during the Panthers' 7-1 win over New Lisbon on Tuesday.
By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
The Panthers headed into this week looking to lock up their first Scenic Bluffs Conference (SBC) title since 2004.
Royall faced three SBC games in four days, looking to wrap up the title with a pair of wins.
The Panthers were able to take care of the Wonewoc-Center Indians Monday, with a score of 10-3 to clinch a share of the title. Tuesday, the Panthers were able to capture the outright title with a 7-1 win over the New Lisbon Rockets and improved to 11-2 in SBC play on Thursday with a 10-5 win over Necedah.
Against the Rockets, the Panthers looked to avenge an early season loss at the hands of the Rockets.
Royall was able to hold off an early New Lisbon threat as the Rockets had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the first, but couldn't take advantage as the Panther defense shutdown New Lisbon.
Scoreless until the bottom of the second, the Panthers were able to get on the board as Cory Witt was able to score on a Travis Witt sacrifice fly to go up 1-0.
New Lisbon couldn't get anything going in the third and the Panthers continued to pull away in the bottom of the third as a pair of runs scored to put Royall up 3-0.
New Lisbon was able to cut into the Panther lead in the fourth, as Mitchell Vinz doubled and was able to score on a Ryan Jensen single to narrow the gap to 3-1.
The Panthers wouldn't let the Rockets get any closer as they added four more runs to win 7-1, and wrap up the SBC title.
Thursday, the Panthers hosted the Necedah Cardinals looking to improve to 11-2 in SBC play.
Both teams couldn't get anything going in the first, and the Panthers were able to get on the board first in the bottom of the second as Logan Robertson picked up a pair of RBI's with a two out single to put Royall up 2-0 early.
The Panthers added another run in the third on a Cory Witt single that scored Brian Miller, to take a 3-0 lead.
Necedah was able to cut into the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs, but Royall kept the pressure on scoring three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to take a 6-2 lead.
The Panthers increased their lead to 10-2 in the bottom of the fifth, before the Cardinals scored three in a late rally attempt in the seventh, falling 10-5.
Allen Roscovius picked up the win for Royall, striking out nine. Cory Witt, Riley Brown and Logan Robertson each had a pair of hits for the Panthers.
Necedah was led by Jeremy Mootz, Matt Housworth and Ryan Temen with two hits each, but couldn't overcome six errors.
"We can't keep giving good teams extra outs and expect to be successful," Necedah coach Pete Lowery said. "If you commit errors when playing a solid team like Royall, it is going to give them momentum and they will make it hurt."
Necedah will look to rebound when they host Cashton on Monday in their SBC finale.
Royall will look to pick up a couple of wins at Mauston's All Sports Day today, before their SBC finale against Bangor on Monday.