South Charlotte Panthers

The SC Panthers completed the summer season with a record of 34-13(.723). The team achieved championships in the Impact/Wake Forest Tournament and the Perfect Game BCS Southeast Regionals; Runner up finish in the Impact World Series; and Top eight finishes in the Perfect Game WWBA 17U and Perfect Game BCS 17U. The Panthers played 38 different teams from Florida, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Maryland, Illinois, California, South Carolina and North Carolina. At last count the the opposing teams had over 200 players signed or committed to college programs with many more to follow. The team played in over 30 parks including Auburn University, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Roger Dean Complex, Southern Poly, East Cobb Complex, Louisburg College, Wake Forest, Winthrop and Wofford. The Panthers hit .336 as a team scoring 283 runs with 400 hits including 16 HR. Michael Melton(.463)31-67 and Whit Merrifield(.447)63-141 led the Panthers hitters in batting average. Other leading hitters were RBI-Chris Kinard(31); HR-Byron McKoy(3); Doubles-Erik Sommerville(8) and Preston Shuey(8); Base on Balls-Justin Schumer(24) and Stolen Bases-Whit Merrifield(38). Defensively the Panthers turned 45 double plays led by Justin Schumer(16) and Whit Merrifield(15). The Panther outfielders had 14 OF assists led by Erik Sommerville(5). Catchers Kolby Epley and Chris Kinard threw out 16 of 40 base runners and had 5 passed balls between them in 302 innings. Versatile Tyler Vogler played 7 positions. Skip Hutchins(.950) led the MIF and Graham Fronk(.977) the OF in fielding average while Michael Melton was perfect at 1B with a 1.000 average on 118 chances. The pitchers were led by Corey Norman(6-1) and Kyle Greenwalt(5-1)in wins. Justin Schumer led the team in strikeouts with 41 in 34 innings, followed closely by Corey Norman(40). Michael Caldwell(1.19); Erik Sommerville(1.62) and Skip Hutchins(1.66) led the team in earned run average. Kyle Greenwalt had 4 complete game outings and 2 shut outs including possibly the highlight game of the 18U WWBA Championships with a shutout win against the Central Florida Renegades on Field 1 at East Cobb in front of 50 plus scouts. The Panthers bid farewell to the departing 06 players who will each begin college in the fall of 2006 and continue their baseball careers. These young men have been instrumental in helping the Panther program reach the success we have achieved on and off the field. They will be missed but not forgotten. Erik Sommerville(7 Years) - Francis Marion Justin Schumer(5 Years) - University of North Carolina Asheville Zach Parmer(4 Years) - Wofford College Josh Salay(6 Years) - Winthrop University Nick Fogleman(1 Year) - Pfieffer College