Everyone expected a battle between the Whitewater and Starr’s Mill varsity baseball teams, but nobody could have predicted the 12 inning, four hour game that was played on Wednesday evening. Especially after the way it started.

Starr’s Mill opened up with five runs in the top of the first inning with RBIs coming from Trent Freeman, Ed Cook, Michael Jeanes, Ken Jackson and Tyler Claborn. Cook, Jeanes and Jackson hit back-to-back-to back RBI doubles to score three of the five runs. Whitewater answered in the bottom of the inning with a single from Travis Dingler that knocked in two runs. Ryan Johnson would add one more run in the second inning with a sacrifice fly.

The score remained 5-3 until the bottom of the fifth inning when Whitewater pitcher Justin Carpenter hit a home run to cut the Panthers’ lead to one run. Starr’s Mill’s starting pitcher, Ryan Haynie, hit an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to stretch the lead out to two runs. Ed Cook came on in relief of Haynie in the bottom of the sixth but three errors and another RBI single from Dingler gave the Wildcats a 7-6 lead. Starr’s Mill’s Pat Casey hit a game tying RBI single in the top of the seventh and the two teams would remain deadlocked until the 12th inning.

In the top of the 12th, Haynie and Brian Fletcher hit back to back RBI doubles and Freeman followed with an RBI triple. Cook followed Freeman’s hit with an RBI single and the 11-7 lead held up in the bottom of the inning.

Cook was the winning pitcher for the Panthers, pitching seven innings, giving up three hits, three runs, none of them earned, while striking out seven batters.

“We were just trying to hold on,” said Starr’s Mill coach Brent Moseley after the game. “They have a great ball club. Our guys battled like crazy though and hopefully we won’t have a let down in the rest of our games this week.” Moseley heaped praise on Cook and Haynie for getting the job done on the mound and at the plate.

The Panthers will face Woodward Academy tonight at 6 p.m. and Whitewater will host McIntosh tonight at 7 p.m.
McIntosh faced Northgate on Wednesday and lost 8-2. The Chiefs (11-7, 4-4 region) will host Woodward Academy on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Northgate (17-1, 7-1 region) plays at Westlake tonight at 5:30 p.m. and will host Fayette County next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Fayette County (4-12, 2-5 region) ) lost to Woodward Academy 24-1 on Tuesday. They will host Banneker on Monday.

East Coweta (11-5, 3-1 region) lost to Newnan 2-0 on Monday but bounced back with a 13-3 win over Paulding County on Wednesday. Cam Bedrosian got the win and Chris Ramos and Recardo Billups hit home runs. The Indians will play at Morrow tonight at 6 p.m. and will host Central, Carroll at 5:30 p.m.

Landmark Christian (7-4, 4-2 region) lost to Mt. Pisgah 3-2 in eight innings on Tuesday. Michael Leonard pitched well, Kyle Wren had two hits and and Ryan Lloyd and Blake Austin swung the bat well. The War Eagles will play at Mt. Paran tonight at 5 p.m. and will host Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy at 6 p.m on Tuesday.

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