Diamond 'Dogs Roll On!

Brookfield won its 4th straight game, thumping Monroe City, 9-1, in Monday's CCC baseball matchup. It was Brookfield's sixth victory in its last seven games.

The Panthers threatened first, as they loaded the bases via a base hit and two walks with no outs in the 2nd inning. However, they were caught stealing home twice on passed balls. The first did not bound away very far, and Peyton Parn made a great diving tag to get the runner. The Panthers were denied again when Parn retrieved and tossed to Garret Wood covering for the second out. Wood then fanned the next batter.

The Bulldogs took advantage of their good fortune by plating four runs in the third. Gage Ludington and Bryson Shoop drew walks, and Colton Parn singled. Trayce Switzer walked to force in one run, and Peyton Parn followed with a two-run double to left. Hank Parks completed the scoring with an RBI groundout.

The Panthers were gifted a run in the bottom of the frame. The first two batters reached on walks, and an error scored a run. A double play, followed by a strikeout, ended the threat.

The Bulldogs tacked on two runs in the 5th. Switzer singled, Shoop reached by error and Parks walked to load the bases. Riley Hinckle and Wood followed with back-to-back RBI sacrifice flies.

The Panthers lead-off hitter in the 5th reached by a hit by pitch, but was erased by a double play, the Bulldogs second of the game and fifth in the past two games.

Switzer drove in a pair of runs with a double to center in the 6th, and Shoop added an RBI double to left in the 7th.

Switzer (3 RBI, 2 runs, 2B, BB, 2 SB) paced the 'Dogs with two hits, and Peyton Parn (2 RBI, run, 2B, BB, SB), Shoop (RBI, 2 runs, 2B, 2 BB, SB), Colton Parn (run, BB) and Wood (RBI, 2B) each added a hit.

Parks (BB) and Hinckle each knocked in a run, and Ludington scored three runs on three walks and had three stolen bases.
Wood earned the win on the mound, allowing just one unearned run on one hit and six walks. He struck out five. Colton Parne pitched a perfect inning in relief, fanning two.

The Bulldogs (6-7) host Grundy County/Newtown-Harris on Thursday.

Story by: Dennis Hughes