Darkness brings halt to Panther rally, Charles City drops contest to Huguenot

A tag by Charles City's Raymond Fetter (15) is a tad bit late as Huguenot's Ian Mott slides safely into third base.

Andre' Jones photo

By the time Charles City’s Panthers hitting became a threat to the visiting Huguenot Falcons, the sun had set on them; both figuratively and literally.

Huguenot pushed 12 runs across home plate before Charles City could register a score as the Falcons defeated Charles City 13-7 in a Mar. 28 game that was called due to darkness at Harrison Park.

Miscues plagued the Panthers from the onset in the game. Huguenot’s Ian Mott advanced to first on an error before later scoring on a fielder’s choice. Michael Roland walked onto base before swiping two additional ones and scoring to give the visitors a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

More problems hurt Charles City as pitchers Christian Stewart and Brian Menefee struggled on the mound. The Falcons pushed two more runs across the plate before Tyheim Johnson registered the first hit on the game. Johnson became the first of three more runners to trot across home plate for a 7-0 lead after two. The guests added five runs in the top of the third to hold a comfortable 12-0 lead.

Charles City’s patient at the plate yielded the team’s first run. After loading the bases, Victor Johnson was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run of the game. Raymond Fetter’s single into center field drove in teammates Cameron Banks and Justis Crawley. Johnson touched home base after a wild pitch as Charles City trailed 12-4 after three.

Huguenot managed to add one run in the top of the fourth, but the hosts’ hot streak at the plate continued. Singles by Menefee and Banks resulted in Crawley driving the two home on an outfield double. Crawley stole third base and advanced home on a wild pick off throw to cut the lead down to six (13-7). But as soon as Crawley crossed home plate, the game was called on the count of darkness, allowing Huguenot to exit with the victory.

After the contest, Charles City head coach Irving Bradby said that the team’s performance was a reversal of its contest two days earlier at Highland Springs.

“We started fast at Highland Springs and then towards the end, we kind of slowed down,” he said. “Today, we had troubles early on with pitching and errors.

“I’m proud of the way we connected with the bats later on,” Bradby continued. “Right now, we have to work on the fundamentals. We’re still a young team and they have to get use to playing high school baseball.”

Charles City remains winless on the year with an 0-3 record.