The Claflin Panthers gave their four seniors something to remember as they pounded Voorhees 17-5 in the first half of their doubleheader, but the feeling would be short-lived as the Tigers rebounded in game two winning 4-3 in eight innings.

Voorhees jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning of game one. Travis Adams scored on a fielder’s choice to give the Tigers a 1-0 advantage.

The Panthers responded in their half of the first with a RBI single by Reggie Taylor that scored Eric Jordan to tie the game at 1-1. Rafael Outler, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a wild pitch making it 2-1. Wes Platts followed the wild pitch with a RBI double to the left field wall to bring in Taylor giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead.

Claflin continued their offensive attack in the second. After Jordan reached on a base hit to center, Outler followed with a RBI single. However, Outler scored on an error that allowed the ball to reach the center field wall. The costly error allowed Outler to round the bases and score making it 5-1.

After giving up one run in the third, the Panthers went back to work on offense. Jordan drove in Trivon Howard on a RBI single to center giving Claflin a 6-2 lead. With the bases loaded, Taylor walked forcing in Jarryd Alexander making it a 7-2 ball game.

Meanwhile, Claflin starting pitcher Brandon Moody wasn’t making things any easier for the Tigers. Moody issued four walks, hit four batters and allowed six hits in six innings.

“He did an exceptional job for us,” Claflin head coach James Randall said. “He threw strikes and kept us in the ball game. He got a little tired towards the end and got his walks up. Other than that, he pitched an outstanding game for us.”

The Panthers added to their run total by scoring two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth inning, the Tigers’ offense came alive to cut into the Claflin lead.

Moody hit three batters in the inning and walked two. Kirk High scored after Moody plunked Christian Rios making the score 11-3. Adams batted in the final two runs on a RBI single to center to make it 11-5.

In the end, the Claflin bats proved to be too much in the bottom of the sixth. The Panthers put up six runs in the inning including a triple by Outler that scored three runs. Outler would score on an errant throw later in the inning.

“Our team has really been swinging the bat well,” Randall said. “It’s a shame that we don’t get a chance to go to the tournament this year. Our team is really, really starting to play well. The guys are doing the little things it takes to win games. I’m really proud of this group. They’ve done an outstanding job.”

Game Two

Voorhees 4, Claflin 3

Eric Jordan took the loss for the Panthers in the final game of the season. Platts led Claflin at the plate with three hits. Moody had an RBI double in the sixth and Alexander had an RBI in the fifth. Claflin finishes the season 23-19.

— T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover can be reached by e-mail at eglover@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Check out his blog, Cover 2, at www.thetandd.com. —

Claflin avenged a season-opening loss to Brewton Parker by handing the Barons a 5-2 loss Tuesday.

Eric Jordan, who was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, scored the first run of the game for the Panthers on a sacrifice fly by Wesley Platts. Brandon Moody followed that with a RBI single to bring in Rafael Outler making it a 2-0 game.

After reaching on a fielder's choice in the third, Outler crossed the plate on a double by Reggie Taylor giving Claflin a 3-0 lead.

"It seems like the better the pitching is, the better Reggie hits," Claflin head coach James Randall said. "He's really done a good job. He's had a great season and today was just icing on the cake for him."

Taylor was 3-for-5 against the Barons including a run scored and a RBI.

With three runs on the board, Andy Till had all the support he needed. The former Bowman Academy Bulldog recorded four strikeouts and a walk in five innings.

"Andy did a great job," Randall said. "He got us started. He got out there, gave us five quality innings, and kept (the Barons) off balance. That's one kid that has really improved for us this season. He's done a great job."

After allowing Brewton Parker's first run of the game, the Panthers (21-16) responded with a RBI single by Trivon Howard to take a 4-1 advantage.

The Barons scored again in the seventh, but Claflin's pitching combination of Shannon Ransom and Ernest Sinkfield ensured that Brewton Parker got no closer. The Panthers tacked on their final run in the eighth thanks to a sacrifice fly by Outler scoring Norman O'Neal.

The Panthers extend their winning streak to three heading into their 2 p.m. Saturday doubleheader with Benedict at Polo Field.

"This win was big for us," Randall said. "We needed to win against a quality ball club and we got that. To get a win against a ball club of this caliber was great for our program."

-- T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover can be reached by e-mail at eglover@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Check out his blog, Cover 2, at www.thetandd.com. --