OBSERVER?Staff?Report
LAKEWOOD - Despite several committing several errors early in the season, the Gowanda Panthers (6-4, 3-1) had still been able to remain perfect in CCAA Division 1 action.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, the errors finally caught up to them as they had five errors in dropped a 7-4 decision to the Southwestern Trojans on Friday.
Article Photos
Photo by Mark L.?Anderson
Gowanda’s Nathan Draegert throws a pitch during Friday’s CCAA?Division 1 baseball game against Southwestern.
"This is exactly what we have been able to escape in other games," Gowanda coach Tim Smith said. "We knew it would get us at some point. Three of our five errors happened in the third inning. That was the story. It was careless mistakes. We continue to make the same mistakes. It's frustrating to see some of those we make. We do it to ourselves. I firmly believe we beat ourselves."
The Trojans scored four runs in the third inning which essentially put the game away.
"Hopefully we learn from it," Smith said. "Now let's see how we react. We aren't going to be perfect, but we have to be able to minimize the mistakes."
The Panthers scored two runs in the first inning as Ryan Boutelle walked to start game and scored on a Walker Cygan double. Alex Sternisha followed with a double of his own to score Cygan.
In the fifth inning, Gowanda scored two more runs as Sternisha had a two-run double.
Gowanda stranded 11 runners on base and loaded the bases twice.
Sternisha and Jake Hanson-Ivett each had two hits.
The Panthers return to action Monday when they travel to Dunkirk.
