By Dennis Bowling

Manteno Coach Josh Carlile’s Panthers always are amped up for most of their opponents, but the Panthers really struggled in all aspects of their game against ICE Conference foe Coal City. The result was at all not good on April 10, as Coal City beat Manteno, 13-1, (five innings) in an Illinois Central Eight contest in Manteno. The Panthers currently are 7-3, 4-1, while the Coalers are 11-2, 5-0.

Coaler hurler Maryn Kuder was in a great groove, allowing only six scattered hits. The Panthers losing pitcher, Alyssa Dralle, was not at all on her game and surrendered nine hits, which included eight hits in the third frame – all of which led to her demise.

“They came to our field hungry, and we played like garbage,” said Carlile. “I saw a lot of mental mistakes, and we played on our heels for the entire game. Our play was embarrassing. We needed some energy, but didn’t have it today.”

In the second inning, the Coalers scored one run, but the Panthers answered by scoring one run in the bottom of the frame. After one out, Manteno’s Macy Iwanus smashed a double to left field. Ava Peterson’s single moved Iwanus to third base, then Jaz Manau’s single scored Iwanus, which tied the game at 1-all.

“We just needed to have a better start,” said Iwanus. “I do what I can for the team. Jaz is a good hitter and was able to drive in a run. She’s a team player.”

Peterson, an ultra-quick centerfielder, a hard throwing hurler, and a team player, said, “I just did my job. We had an early scoring opportunity, but we will have to bounce back from this loss. We have to come out stronger.”

The Coalers blew the game wide open and scored eight runs in the third frame for a 9-1 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Manteno’s Ava Pequette and Kenzie Hespen each had singles, but it wasn’t enough to get a run across the plate.

Manteno’s Drew Hosselton, the Panthers team leader, was pleased with the play of Manau, and remarked, “Jaz has been doing very well and kept us fired up. We just beat ourselves and didn’t have any energy. They had the momentum. It was just one of those crappy days. We need to keep our energy up.”

In the top of the fifth frame after one out, Pequette and Syd Sosnowski each had singles. Manteno’s Lily Bivona and Hespen each made outs to end the game and the possible scoring rally.