South Charlotte Panthers

What a run. Congratulations to all of the Panther players for a hard earned National Championship Runner Up finish. I am especially proud of the team, the players, the coaches and the fans for winning the National Sportsmanship award. The team has accomplished many of the goals we set out to achieve this season and these two rewards are some of the proof of those results. First let me say thanks to each and every parent and fan. Your support in all ways made this a great trip and one each of the players will remember for a lifetime. Everyone pitched in and did their part, but a special thanks to house captains Karen Shuey, Veda Norman and King Art Sommerville for their management of the beach houses, team dinners and player chaperones. Thanks to Veda Norman for all of the player transportation and the bookkeeping. The van will never be the same and continues to be the ride everyone wants. Ray Kinard for driving the team van, carrying equipment and being there for anything I needed. The Sommervilles and Kinards for hauling all of the extra baggage. To all of the moms for the daily laundry service on uniforms. To all the parents who supplied innumberable Gatorades to the players. To Laurie for all of the behind the scenes logistics work on houses, hotel rooms and all of the other dirty work I pass your way. To the dads who stepped in and helped with the fields and tarps. A quick recap of the games and our run to the championship. Game 1 vs. the Lansdale Lugnuts. The Panthers faced the best pitcher we have or would face in the form of Kyle Greenwalt. Josh Salay not only matched Kyle but bettered him to a 0-0 tie after 8 innings. Erik Sommerville(4-0) relieved Josh and picked up the win in the 11th inning. Justin Schumer led the hitters going 3-5 and scored the game winning run in the 11th. Preston Shuey recorded 8 P.O. at first and Chris Kinard made a run saving catch in RF. It would not be his last. Game 2 vs. the Ohio Warhawks. Corey Norman(8-1) stopped the Warhawks in a 9-2 win. Leading the Panther hitters were Kolby Epley 2-2(2B)Erik Sommerville with a 2RBI single and Alex Bebeau with an RBI single. The defense was error free with 2 double plays; one started by Josh Salay and the other turned by Whit Merrifield. Game 3 vs. the BTA from Pittsburgh, PA. The Panthers took a hard fought loss in 10 innings against the Pitt team. Starter Matt Sanders held the BTA batters in check until a 40 minute rain delay cooled him off and the BTA bats heated up. After coming back three times to tie the game the Panthers ran out of chances in the 10th inning and took the loss 10-8. Leading hitters for the Panthers were Justin Schumer 3-5 with 3 RBI. Josh Salay 2-4. Preston Shuey knocked in the game tieing runs in the 6th and Graham Fronk tied it with a hit in the 8th. In the first game of the championship pool and game 4 the Panthers thumped the eventual national champion Tristate Arsenal 8-2. After falling behind 2-0 the Panthers fought back for the big win. Justin Schumer(5-0) pitched all 7 innings scattering 5 hits while striking out 3. Justin initiated a momentum killing Triple Play with a diving catch of a sacrifice bunt and then forcing the runners at second and then first.Whit Merrifield keyed two other double plays in a big defensive effort. Chris Kinard stole a possible double in RF coming back off of an injured heel and Brent Lalas played a perfect game at third in the big win. Whit led the hitters with a 3-3 day at the plate followed by Chris Kinard 2-3 and Zack Parmer 2-2. Game 5 The Panthers shutout the New Jersey Elements behind a two hitter by Corey Norman(9-1). The defense again stood out with Justin Schumer and Whit Merrifield turning a doubleplay in addition to 7 other plays. The leading hitters were Kolby Epley 2--3 with an RBI and Erik Sommerville 1-2. Game 6 The Panthers beat the Virginia Riverdogs 3-2. Starter and winning pitcher Matt Sanders(6-1) was cruising along with a one run lead and a one hitter when in the 6th with a runner on base the ball left the yard for a 2 run homer. The Panthers fought back with two runs of their own on back to back singles by Justin Schumer and Whit Merrifield to take a 7th inning walk off win. Skip Hutchins knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly and along with Josh Salay turned a rare 1B to 3B to 1B double play. Zack Parmer and Kolby Epley also contributed two hits in the game. Game 7 In the first game of the Championship Brackets the Panthers faced the Conneticutt Bombers and prevailed behind Josh Salay(5-0). Joshed pitched a one hitter, striking out 4 in the close 2-1 game. Chris Kinard 1-3 and Kolby Epley drove in the two Panther runs. The defense was again stellar with big plays by T. J. Freeman in CF, Skip Hutchins at 3B and with another double play Justin and Whit in the infield. Game 8 was the semi final versus the Strike Zone Mavericks. The Panthers jumped to a 3-0 lead only to see it go away in the 6th inning. Starter Justin Schumer gave way to Corey Norman in the 7th. The Panthers jumped back ahead 5-3 only to see the never say die Mavericks come back again. Graham Fronk ended a game ending threat with a perfect peg of the winning run at home on a hit to RF. In the 9th inning the Panthers scored on a lead off single by Corey a sacrifice by T.J., a bases loading walk of Justin and a sacrifice fly by Whit Merrifield. Corey(10-1) held the Mavericks in the bottom of the inning after a long running catch by Graham Fronk in RF. Leading hitters for the Panthers were Josh Salay 3-4 and Chris Kinard 2-4. Chris made another by this time patented run saving catches in LF. In the Championship and rematch versus the Arsenal the Panthers fell behind early 2-0 and could not find their bats against a strong Arsenal pitcher . The Arsenal tacked on 4 in the 6th before the Panthers had one last gasp in the 7th only to see a single run cross the plate before we ran out of outs. Chris Kinard led the hitters going 2-3. Congrats to the Arsenal on the win and a well played tournament. Again, Thanks to everyone. It is on to Atlanta for the Perfect Games Wood Bat Nationals. Good Luck to the Panther football players: T.J. Freeman and Chris Kinard at South Meck Graham Fronk at Charlotte Christian Skip Hutchins at Charlotte Country Day Alex Bebeau at Ft. Mill HS and Whit Merrifield at Davie County HS Once we return from Atlanta we I plan to schedule a team dinner out and then parents meeting to discuss the upcoming fall season. Coach Don