No. 11-ranked Kingwood Park ran into a red-hot Port Neches-Groves Friday evening.
The Indians won the non-district doubleheader 10-0 (5 inn.) and 11-3 for the Panthers’ first losses of the season.
The losses snap Kingwood Park’s season-opening six-game win streak. The Panthers took down Livingston 12-6 earlier this week.
In Game 1, the Panthers were held to just two hits and three total baserunners. Keilee Brown doubled while Samantha Barnes singled.
Kingwood Park pitching – Allie Minick and Haylee Seales – allowed just five earned runs as the defense made four errors. Minick struck out two in 1⅓ innings while Seales struck out one in 2⅔ innings.
The Indians (12-2), winners of eight straight, totaled nine hits with four players providing nine RBIs.
After PN-G went ahead 3-0 in Game 2, the Panthers tied the game in the top of the second.
Kendall Olson knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice. Lexie Barbontin earned an RBI on a bases-loaded walk. Ava Klinefelter singled in Hadley Heineman to tie it up.
The Panthers totaled just four hits as Abbey Papadimitriou went 2-for-4.
Seales pitched four innings and didn’t allow an earned run as six PN-G runs came across after errors. Seales allowed just four hits.
Heineman went the rest of the way with two strikeouts and six hits allowed. Five earned runs came across.
The Panthers make their long-awaited regular season home debut next Friday as District 18-5A begins. Kingwood Park hosts Pasadena at 6:30 p.m.
Kingwood Park junior Ava Klinefelter swings at a pitch in a game earlier this season. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
