South Charlotte Panthers

The Panthers earned a sixth place finish in the AAU Junior Olympics to complete their summer 05 season. In hot and humid conditions in the Big Easy the CATS started out on a fast track by winning their first round pool 3-0 and then going 2-0 in the second round championship pool before dropping their first contest in the sixth game. The team opened the championship round versus the OTC Bearcats who we had beaten twice this season only to see their bats come alive and take a 7-3 win relegating the CATS to the back side of the bracket. We earned a hard fought revenge win versus the Tri State Arsenal who beat us in the championship last year and then dropped our final contest to place sixth. Game 1 SC Panthers 4 New York Gothams 3 WP: Josh Salay(6-1) Erik Sommerville SV(3) The Panthers came back for an exciting opening game win in our first ever game versus a team from NY and won their opener. Corey Norman supplied the firepower at the plate going 2-2 with a 2B and a 3B. Game 2 SC Panthers 3 Doyle Baseball 2 WP: Kyle Greenwalt(6-1) 10K In the most exciting play of the summer season, behind 2-1, Erik Sommerville with two outs and two strikes goes deep to LF for a triple and daring run home and diving slide to score the tying run. Josh Salay drives in Justin Schumer in the eigth to win the game for the CATS. Game 3 SC Panthers 4 Team Iowa 1 WP: Corey Norman(7-2) Corey Norman shuts down the Iowa team and supplies the needed offense with a 2 run HR. Game 4 SC Panthers 4 New Orleans Spice 1 WP: Zach Parmer(5-2) Erik Sommerville SV(4) The Panthers score 3 runs in the eigth to break a 1-1 tie and beat the home town favorites. Pitchers Zach Parmer and Erik Sommerville also supplied the offense with 2 hits each. Nick Verhein supplied the game winning hit with two strikes and two outs in the eigth. Game 5 SC Panthers 2 OTC Bearcats 0 WP: Justin Schumer(4-2) Behind Justin Schumer's two hit shut out the CATS beat the Bearcats 2-0. Whit Merrifield and Nick Verhein supplied key hits leading to runs. Game 6 SC Panthers 3 South Shore Seadogs 6 LP: Erik Sommerville(3-2) The Panthers fell behind early and could not catch up late in their first loss of the event. Brandon Stewart and Erik Sommerville both got two hits and Whit Merrifield hit a two run HR to get keep us close. Game 7 SC Panthers 3 OTC Bearcats 7 LP: Corey Norman(7-3) The Panthers lost to OTC for the first time in three contest in the first game of the Championship bracket. The OTC bats heated up and left the CATS in the dust in spite of an Erik Sommerville HR and multiple hit games by Whit Merrifield, Josh Salay and Justin Schumer. Game 8 SC Panthers 7 Tri State Arsenal 6 WP: Kyle Greenwalt(7-1) Justin Schumer SV(1) In a rematch of last years championship game and the rubber game with Tri State the Panthers earned a hard fought win and a touch of revenge. Whit Merrifield, Erik Sommerville and Josh Salay supplied the offensive fire power with Dean Boyle,Kolby Epley and Brandon Stewart also getting hits. Game 9 SC Panthers 3 CT Bombers 6 LP: Josh Salay(6-2) Josh fell behind early trying to find his control and the Panthers could not mount a serious comeback versus the Bombers. The Panthers finished the tournament 6-3 and placed sixth to achieve their fourth top 16 result in the past four years at AAU Nationals. Whit Merrifield and Erik Sommerville were chosen for the ALL Tournament Team for their play this week.