CHURCH POINT -- The Pine Prairie Panthers picked up three runs in their final at bat to cap off a 7-2 win over the Church Point Bears Tuesday afternoon to earn their first district win of the season.
Pine Prairie is now 7-8 on the year and 1-0 in District 5-3A play and have won five of their last six games. The Panthers host Church Point today in another league contest. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
Pine Prairie took the early lead, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. JJ Sims reached on an error to lead things off and moved to third base on back-to-back singles from Jordan Ardoin and Kyler Carson. Sims came across to score on an error by the Church Point defense.
The Panthers added to their lead in the top of the third inning, scoring two more runs to take a 3-0 advantage. The Bears cut that lead by one with a single run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
Ardoin doubled and later scored during a rundown situation to put Pine Prairie up 4-1 in the top of the fifth. The Panthers produced three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to increase their lead by six points.
Church Point tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, adding another score of their own. However, starting Panther hurler Gage Strother and the Pine Prairie defense shut down the Bear offensive attack before it could continue the momentum gained.
Carson was 3 for 4 at the plate to lead the way for the Panthers.
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TRACEY JAGNEAUX Sports Editor