The Eagles’ bats were around, too, scratching together just enough to stay alive.
But it was the chances - and ultimately runs - that second-ranked Rogers gave away in a 4-2 loss to No. 10 Danbury that proved to be the Eagles’ undoing in the opener of a Class 2A Region IV semifinal baseball series Thursday night at Weimar Veterans Park’s Strickland Field.
“The passed ball and the ball through the center fielder’s legs, that’s three runs we just said, ‘Here, take ’em,’” Rogers coach Keith Klaus said. “Take away two of those and we’re still playing right now.
“They made the most of their opportunities and we were just a couple inches short.”
The loss was Rogers’ first against 2A competition, and one more against Danbury (27-4) would be its last. The Eagles (24-4) will face elimination at 2 p.m. Saturday in Weimar, with a Game 3 to follow if necessary.
The Panthers didn’t get much off junior right-hander Mendoza (6-2), who allowed six hits in a complete game. But when Rogers gave Danbury opportunities, the Panthers pounced.
With Dillon Peltier at second base after a one-out double, winning pitcher Scott Zimmerle lined a hit into center field that dropped in front of Jordan Sebek. The ball squirted between Sebek’s legs and rolled away, allowing Peltier and Zimmerle to score for a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers took advantage of another miscue in the sixth.
After Matt Dees broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run to right, Garrett Zimmerle lined a triple to right to keep the pressure on. He came around to score during the next at-bat, racing home on a ball that got away from catcher Dustin Hamilton to give Danbury a 4-2 lead.
Aside from that, the game belonged to Mendoza and Scott Zimmerle (13-0), the Panthers’ hard-throwing left-hander.
Each pitcher maneuvered around trouble to keep his team alive for a chance to steal a win late.
Mendoza allowed six hits, four runs (two earned) and struck out nine to continue a recent trend of stellar outings.
“Greg has pitched really well the last couple weeks,” Klaus said. “My hat’s off to him - he’s pitched outstanding. He did his job. He kept us in the ballgame with one of the top pitchers in the state.”
Zimmerle was just as impressive, allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking out 11 in six innings to remain perfect.
Rogers finally got to Zimmerle in the fifth, started by single from junior Travis Perkins. After a sacrifice bunt by Sebek to move Perkins into scoring position, sophomore Ryan Fares and senior Cameron Doskocil lined consecutive run-scoring singles to right to tie the game at 2.
The Eagles had a chance to tie or take the lead in the seventh but left the bases loaded. Rogers had six hits, two by Fares.
“We had to minimize mistakes when we had opportunities to move runners and pick up runners,” Klaus said. “We did it once; we didn’t do it another time. That’s the way the game goes sometimes."
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
