Permian bounces back, beats Midland Lee

The Permian baseball team bounced back in solid fashion Tuesday, riding a pair of big innings to a 13-3 victory over Midland Lee at McCanlies Field. The Panthers (14-9 overall, 4-2 District 2-6A) sent 23 batters to the plate over the second and third innings to overcome an early 2-0 deficit and maintain a share of second place in the district standings with Midland High. In Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Wolfforth Frenship, Permian had two at bats with the bases loaded in the sixth inning with a chance to turn the game around, getting only Jared Carrasco’s RBI single. In a similar situation in the second inning Tuesday, Noey Brito sliced a three-run triple into the right-field corner to ignite a seven-run inning for the Panthers. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys who really love each other,” Permian coach Tate Criswell said. “When we need to respond and bounce back from a loss, we’re able to do that. “We’ve got a lot of tough guys who are relentless and competitive. They’ve just got a lot of fight in them.” Every spot in the Permian lineup produced at least one run with eight players having hits and seven recording RBIs. Carrasco, who finished with three RBIs, Tanner Adams and Isaiah Flores each went 2 for 2. Lee (14-7, 3-3) did itself no favors, committing six errors that led to eight unearned runs for the Panthers. “That was about the worst outing we’ve had all year,” Rebels coach Brian Roper said. “That was just awful, and it started early. “We just had some guys that weren’t ready to play. That’s the thing about high school baseball. You’ve got such a challenge trying to get people locked in and focused and ready to play.” Permian starter McCray Gann overcame an inconsistent performance to throw a five-inning complete game for the win, allowing three runs on 10 hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Criswell said Gann, a sophomore, took a big step forward in the fourth inning. After loading the bases with no outs on a walk, a double and a hit batter, Gann regrouped to strike out the next three batters to keep the 10-run rule in play. “I thought he responded to adversity pretty well,” Criswell said of Gann, who allowed at least one hit in every inning. “He didn’t have his A game. When he loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, I went out and kind of challenged him. He responded really well.” Lee’s Niko Rubio was 2 for 2 with two walks and Trevor Roper was 3 for 3. The Rebels struck for two runs in the first as Rubo and Roper both singled to start the game. Rubio scored on an error and Roper came in on Felix Hinojosa’s groundout with the bases loaded, but Gann was able to limit the damage. After running themselves out of a promising first inning, the Panthers got things going in the second. Permian loaded the bases with one out as Carrasco and Flores singled. In between, Taylor Sullivan reached on a fielder’s choice when Lee pitcher J.J. Melendez threw wildly to second going for the force out. “I think it’s all the dudes in front of (Brito) getting on and getting in scoring position and executing at the plate,” Criswell said. “Noey got a great pitch to hit and went that way with it. It turned out good for us.” Brito then put the Panthers in front to stay with his triple. “When I was up at the plate, I just tried to stay relaxed, not do anything big,” Brito said. “I put a good swing on the ball and moved runners around.” Easton Hernandez followed with another RBI triple, Adams singled in a run and Carrasco drove in two more before Rebels reliever Austin Day got out of the inning. Permian kept it going in the third as Flores led off with a double. Two runs scored on errors, and Caden Bedrick, Aleck Villa, Carrasco and Sullivan added RBIs to give the Panthers a 10-run lead.

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PERMIAN BOUNCES BACK, BEATS MIDLAND LEE

SAM WALLER

Odessa American | 4/28/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Permian Athletics