“He brings intensity”.
Coach Bill McClare knows and appreciates the fire that Henry Shutts brings to Gananda. The right-handed eighth-grader started on the mound for the Panthers on Monday, and delivered 12 strikeouts in five innings of work as Gananda picked up a 16-1 victory over Perry in Section V Class C2 opening round action.
“Henry pitched outstanding”, said McClare. “Shut them down for five innings. I was really happy how we started sectionals off.”
Shutts picks up his 12th strikeout of the day. @gtownbsbl 12, @PerryCSD1 1 halfway through the fifth. pic.twitter.com/v7LBEHnOYI
— TJ Hathaway (@tj_hathaway) May 23, 2022
Late in the game, while Shutts was at third, he attempted to throw in a ball back to the pitcher after a strikeout. However, he ended up rocketing the throw over the pitcher and into Gananda’s dugout. McClare laughed it off.
“You saw the throw from the third base into the dugout”, McClare noted jokingly. “He brings a toughness to us, even as an eighth-grader.”
In addition to pitching well, Shutts finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, and crossed home plate three times. The Panthers were locked in the whole game at the plate, something that McClare was happy his young team was able to accomplish.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
“We’ve been working a lot at it, so it was nice to see all the hard work pay off.”
Senior shortstop Luke Ciprich led Gananda offensively, finishing 4-for-5 in the batter’s box with a triple, a double, and two RBI. Fellow senior Andrew Gleason was 2-for-3, with a triple and three RBI.
“I’d say him (Shutts) and Luke and Andrew bring a toughness to our team that we need, and I think it’ll help us down the road.”
Luke Ciprich hits a deep two-RBI triple into center to extend Gananda’s lead to six. pic.twitter.com/X1LQ3DNBum
— TJ Hathaway (@tj_hathaway) May 23, 2022
Jack Frick drove in a run with three singles. Aidan Giancursio brought home two runs and hit a pair of singles. Matthew Gleason, who also pitched two innings of relief, had an RBI single.
Perry’s Landon Washburn had an RBI single for the Yellow Jackets. Trenton Washburn and Bryce Tallman had a hit apiece.
With this win, Gananda extended its win streak to a season-high five wins. When asked if the Blue Panthers were playing their best baseball of the season, McClare said this.
“Yea I think we are, but I think we got more work to do. I think we can play better, and we will need to play better as we move on in sectionals.”
No. 5 seed Gananda will travel on the road to face No. 4 seed Campbell-Savona in the Class C2 quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Nice job!