Jayden Eickhoff, right, of Fairbanks leaps over a Northeastern runner stealing second as Alex Blumenschein, left, attempts to catch the overthrown ball. The Panthers rallied to beat the Jets 3-2 in a rain-shortened contest.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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One swing of the bat can change everything in a baseball game.
That surely was the case for the Panthers of Fairbanks on Wednesday as they rallied past Northeastern, 3-2, in the rain-shortened game.
The Panthers gave up two early runs, but battled back in the fifth inning.
FHS trailed one with runners at second and third and two outs in the inning.
Darkening clouds built over the left field fence when Connor Pack stepped up to the plate.
The senior worked the count full before a crack of lightning in the black sky delayed the game for 30 minutes.
According to Ohio High School Athletic Association rules, five complete innings must be played for the game to be official.
With one pitch maybe remaining before the game could be slated as complete, both coaches agreed to wait out the lightning delay and play the final pitch.
With the rain still falling, the two teams later took to the field.
Pack stepped into the box with only one pitch coming his way. He made contact and drove it into the right-center gap for the walk-off double to win the game.
Fairbanks head coach Josh Rine said there was no one else he would have rather had in that situation.
“I told him (Pack) after the game, that was great job of staying focused,” said Rine.
“That is a tough situation to be put in, not only him, but the pitcher.
“To go up there after a half hour and rip a double in the gap to win the game, it is pretty impressive,” said the coach. “My hat is off to him.”
The team also had something else to celebrate, as it was Rine’s 100th career victory. The coach in his seventh year with the Panthers and sports a career record of 100-71.
Rine said he doesn’t really keep track of such records… he just loves the game of baseball.
“When I first started, I didn’t think about wins and losses much and I still don’t, because I enjoy doing it,” he said. “It was neat to win it like this on your 100th win.
“It makes it a little more special, but I’m out here for the kids,” said Rine. “I’m just out here because I love baseball and coaching kids.”
Braxton Wilhelm was on the bump for the Panthers and found himself struggling with his control early in the contest.
That led to the Jets’ first run after a wild curveball that hit the dirt.
The right-handed hurler was able to regain his composure as the game progressed.
He notched two K’s while while giving up six hits.
“He (Wilhelm) is usually pretty good at mixing things up,” said Rine. “He can control his off-speed pitches pretty well and today he was controlling his fastball just fine.
“They (Northeastern) are a team that has good enough hitters and they are going to hit the ball well.
“However, we minimized the damage and held them to two runs.”
The Panther offense struggled to find the gaps early in the contest and hit balls right at the Jets.
However, a lead-off infield single in the fourth inning by Pack led to Fairbanks’ initial run.
Pack advanced on a stolen base and worked his way to third on a ground ball by Mason Cushman.
Hayden Hoover was able to collect the RBI with an infield single.
The small ball offense in the fourth set up the Panthers to take the game in the fifth to increase their season record to 13-6.
They also sit in second place in the Ohio Heritage Conference North Division with a 9-5 record.
The Panthers are scheduled to return to action today when they travel to North Union.