South Charlotte Panthers

UPDATE JUNE 2

Four SCP players returned home this past weekend from the NC State Championships and none with the big prize. Ardrey Kell (09 Alex Wood, 10 Ryan Butler and 11 Logan Ratledge) were defeated  two straight by Greenville Rose in the NC 4A Finals in close losses. East Rowan (09 Corbin Shive) lost game three in the best of three after winning game 2. All four underclassmen will be back with their respective teams next year in pursuit of the trophy. Congratulations and welcome to the SCP summer season underway.

SCP RYAN BUTLER (6-0) Pitched a complete game 3 hitter to help lead the Ardrey Kell Knights to a victory over Providence HS to take a 2 game sweep in the best of three series and win the NC 4A Western Regional. AK advances to the North Carolina 4A finals in the school's first year of competition with a senior class. Coach Hal Bagwell stated that "what Ryan did was incredible" in his praise for the sophomore starter. SCP LOGAN RATLEDGE collected two hits in the game to help stake Ryan to a lead. One of the three hits off of Ryan was from Providence freshman and SCP BRETT AUSTIN who launched a HR into deep RF early in the game. The Knights advance to the NC 4A Finals in only their second season to face Greenville Rose. SCP ALEX WOOD (6-0) will be a projected starter in one of the first two state final contest for the Knights.

SCP CORBIN SHIVE (11-1) and the East Rowan Mustangs defeated South Point 3-2 in the rubber game of their three game series for the NC 3A Western Region Championship and advance to the North Carolina 3A State Championship this week versus Rocky Mount. Corbin will be a projected starter in one of the games in the best of three series for the 3A crown.

In earlier action this week:

ALEX WOOD (6-0) pitched a complete game 5 hitter to beat Providence 5-2 in game one of the NC 4A Western Finals. Alex struck out 2 and worked out of a couple of jams to earn his sixth victory on the mound. Knights 2B LOGAN RATLEDGE layed down a perfect sacrifice bunt in the second inning to advance the first two runs into scoring position. Logan also hit a deep fly to CF and a single for a 1 for 2 night. Zico Pasut 3 for 4 and Johnny Eaker 2 for 4 led the Knights at the plate. KURT SEMENIUK (5-1) took the mound for the Panthers and pitched well in taking his first loss of the season. Kurt gave up 7 hits and struck out 2; giving up 5 runs with only 2 being earned. Providence SS RICHIE SHAFFER blasted his 8th HR of the season deep to RCF to cut the lead to 2-3 in the 4th inning. CF TYLER ZUPCIC 1 for 4 drove in a run; KURT SEMENIUK was 1 for 3 with a sharp single and 2B DREW CASELLA went 1 for 3; which added up to 4 of the 5 Providence hits.

CORBIN SHIVE (11-1) took his first loss of the season in an extra inning 0-1 loss to South Point. In the bottom of the eigth Corbin gave up a lead off double then with 2 outs the South Point hitter blooped a single to CF to drive in the winning run. For the night Corbin scattered 7 hits while striking out 8 and walking 2. The South Point starter pitched an eight inning no hitter for the win.

In fourth round action:

Providence knocked off state #1 ranked, national #5 ranked and defending NC 4A champion South Caldwell 10-4 in their fourth round match up. The Panthers have won four play off games in a row; all on the road to advance to the Western Region Finals.

After falling behind 0-3 the "never say die" Mohawk Panthers started scratching and clawing their way on base in the top of the fifth sprinkled by RBI hits from SCP KURT SEMENIUK and 08 SCP ERIC SEMENIUK driving in SCP DREW CASELLA. The Cats took a 6-3 lead before the inning was over and never looked back. Starting pitcher Will Helms pitched through 4 innings and earned the win which was saved by SCP RICHIE SHAFFER who threw the final three innings. Richie gave up a lone run and struck out out 6 of the final 9 outs to close the game. SCP TYLER ZUPCIC finished the night 2 for 3 with an RBI and effectively put a stake in the South Caldwell heart with a top of seventh straight steal of home for the tenth run. SCP BRETT AUSTIN had a big game with a double and a triple to help set up the two big scoring innings. SCP MATT LEE had another solid game behind the plate and control of any running game.

SCP C.A. CLAYTON had successfull surgery on his hand Wednesday and will be back in the dugout for the Panthers three game series this week to help cheer on his team.

Ardrey Kell hosted the state #2 ranked team and preseason favorite North Davidson Black Knights in their fourth round match up. The Purple Knights fell behind early 0-1 but like their play off motto of "Cockroaches - Do Not Die" fought their way back in the bottom of the second. AK strung together 4 hits ; including a sharp single from SCP LOGAN RATLEDGE and took a 2-1 lead. The roaches manufactured a run in the fifth and then another in the sixth; including a base on balls from Ratledge to take a 4-2 lead into the seventh. Knights ace Jordan Darnell worked out of a bases loaded jam in the top of seventh; giving up one run then getting the clean up hitter to pop up to third to end the game. Jordan had 10 strike outs and scattered 4 hits in the complete game win. SCP players ALEX WOOD and RYAN BUTLER will play a pivotal role on the mound in the upcoming best of three series versus Providence.

 East Rowan came back in the bottom of the seventh from a 0-4 deficit to win 5-4 versus conference rival and fourth round opponent Mooresville to advance to the NC 3A Western Region finals. SCP CORBIN SHIVE had a key hit in the comeback inning. The Mustangs will travel to South Point to begin the 3A Western Regional Finals on Thursday with Shive expected to start on the mound.