The Panther baseball team extended its winning streak to five games, with victories over Harper and Randolph this past week. On Tuesday, Blanco hosted the Harper Longhorns in a non-district game. The Panthers scored in every inning and used an 8 run 4th to end the game in five innings. Overall, Blanco used 15 hits to drive in 17 runs, while Junior Clint Dreyer picked up his 5th win of the year on the mound striking out five and walking none while scattering four hits. Offensively, John Pepper would lead the way going 3 for 3 at the plate and driving in four runs. Also collecting multiple hits on the night would be Tyler Tredaway with 3 hits, 2 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases along with Shea Mangold and Dreyer with 2 hits apiece.

Blanco again played at home on Friday, as the second round of district play began with the Panthers hosting the Randolph Ro-hawks. Randolph proved to be a tough test for the Panthers, taking a 5 to 2 lead into the bottom of the 5th inning before the Blanco bats came alive driving in 10 runs. The Panthers continued with the hot bats in the bottom half of the 6th to end the game.

For the game, Blanco out hit the Ro-hawks 12 to 3 with Tredaway going 4 for 5 with two triples and five RBI’s. Brooks Wyatt and Travis McClinton also had solid outings at the plate with each picking up two hits and two RBI’s, while Junior Ethan Evans provided the long ball for the night with a two run blast in the 2nd inning. Although Grady Childress started the game and went four innings, striking out seven and walking two while giving up two hits, Dreyer entered in the top of the 4th and went on to collect win number six on the year.

The Panthers improve to 15 and 8 overall and are 4 and 1 in district play. As the second half of district play continues this week, Blanco is in a three-way tie for first with Comfort and Johnson City. Blanco will be hosting both of these teams this week, with Comfort coming to town on Tuesday and Johnson City on Friday. Both games will start at 7:30pm.