Leopards Quiet Panthers’ ‘Rohr’ with Sweep of State Champs
GAME 1: Louisville 4, Perry 3, 10 Innings
Chandler Rice tripled in Desi Givens in the tenth inning and Brittany Flanigan struck out 13 as the Louisville Lady Leopards defeated the defending state champion Perry Panthers 4-3.
The Lady Leps hung on to beat the Panthers even after botching several scoring opportunities. In the fourth inning, Jordan Monnot was hit by a pitch that would have been wild and allow Carlee Baumgardner to score. However, she was sent back to third because it was a dead ball and Baumgardner was left on third at the end of the inning. In the next inning, Givens left first base early to end the inning as Rice missed a home run down the left field line by inches. Rice led off the sixth inning with a triple, but Perry made a great 1-4-2 double play to kill the Leopards scoring threat.
Louisville took the first lead of the day in the fourth inning when Shelby Swigert blooped a double to left field that scored both Emily Isla and Rice. But the Panthers answered right back in the bottom half the inning to tie the game at 2-2.
The Leopards looked to take the lead for good in the top of the seventh inning when Monnot blasted a solo jack to left field to make it 3-2 Leps. But, the team teams remained mirror images of each other as Jayla Saibene singled home Shelbi Tilton to send the game into extra innings.
State Champion pitcher Casi Rohr and Louisville’s Flanigan continued to battled on the mound. Both pitchers shutout their opponents in the eighth and ninth innings. Rohr sent down ten Leopards on strikes in the game, before giving up a walk to Givens in the top of the tenth. Rice followed by ripping a triple all the way to the fence in left-center field allowing Givens to make it home with ease.
Flanigan pitched a scoreless tenth sending down the Panthers’ 2, 3, and 4 hitters down on groundouts to second, shortstop, and third. Louisville briefly celebrated the win over the defending state champs before getting ready for the second game.
GAME 2: Louisville 6, Perry 5
Louisville appeared dead in the water during the later game. Perry pounded out four runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-3 lead and brought their state champion pitcher on in relief, but the Leopards didn’t quit. The ninth hitter, Brooke Lehmiller, found grass in left-center field for a double to lead off the seventh. Isla followed with a walk and then Givens slapped a double that brought home Lehmiller. Then, Rice drew a walk to load the bases. Baumgardner followed with a bloop single to center that brought Isla to the plate to tie the game at 5-5. Two batters later, Monnot patiently drew a bases loaded walk on a full count. Givens walked home and Louisville grabbed a 6-5 lead.
Flanigan, who came into the game in relief of Gianna Falcone in the sixth, again baffled the Panthers by retiring 6 of the 7 batters she faced. Tilton hit a single in the seventh, but that was the only scoring threat. A strikeout and two groundouts gave Louisville the sweep by the count of 6-5.
Earlier in the game, Louisville had another three-run inning in the third. Lehmiller again started off the inning by getting on base with a walk. Flanigan replaced her at first after a fielder’s choice and then Isla grounded out. Givens singled to right field to bring home Flanigan from second. Rice, then ripped her third triple in as many games that again brought home Givens. Then, a wild pitch allowed Rice to score standing up and put the Leps up 3-0.
Before the Perry throbbing in the fifth, Falcone retired 12 of the first 15 Perry hitters and struck out three. Her performance included a seven pitch 1-2-3 fourth inning. Louisville leaves Saturday contests with wins over the defending state champs, Hoover for the first time since 2002, and two wins over the Federal League leading Lake Blue Streaks. The queens of Stark County may be state ranked come next week.
PICTURES
BOX SCORE:
GAME 1
LEOPARDS 4, PANTHERS 3
Louisville 000 200 100 1 — 4 9 4
Perry 000 200 100 0 — 3 8 1
PITCHING: Flanigan and Isla. Rohr and Montgomery. WP—Flanigan 7-1. LP—Rohr 6-2. HITTING: HRs—Louisville: Monnot (2).
GAME 2
LEOPARDS 6, PANTHERS 5
Louisville 003 000 3 — 6 8 1
Perry 001 040 0 — 5 8 1
PITCHING: Falcone, Flanigan (6) and Isla. Felice, Rohr (4) and Montgomery. WP—Flanigan 8-1. LP—Rohr 6-3. HRs—none.
Records—Louisville 11-1, Perry 6-3.
NEXT UP: The Lady Leps will host the Jackson Polar Bears on Monday, April 25 at 5:00 PM. JV will play at home during the same time.
JV RESULT: Game 1: Perry 4, Louisville 3 | Game 2: Louisville 11, Perry 1, 5 Innings
