Panthers can’t get going with losses to Helena

Published 8:59 am Saturday, April 25, 2015

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Jemison's Gabe Hayes hits a double Friday in Game 2 of a playoff series against Helena.

Jemison’s Gabe Hayes hits a double Friday in Game 2 of a playoff series against Helena.

Jemison’s varsity baseball team was eliminated from the Class 5A state playoffs with two second-round losses to Helena on Friday.

The Panthers (25-8) fell 11-3 and 7-3.

JHS, which was hosting the best-of-three series, got on the scoreboard first in Game 1, when leadoff batter Will Lenoir singled to start the bottom of the first inning and then scored on a single by Gabe Hayes.

But Helena plated three runs in the top of the second inning and two more in the third to take a commanding 5-1 lead.

Five more Huskies runs in the fifth ended any Jemison hopes of a comeback.

Lenoir finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate, and brother Phillip Lenoir went 3-for-4 with two doubles. Hayes drove in two runs.

Banks Woodley was the losing pitcher, though only five of the 11 runs scored against him were earned. Woodley struck out six batters.

Like in Game 1, an early Jemison lead in Game 2 dissolved into a disappointing loss.

The Panthers went up 3-1 in the top of the third inning but were outscored 6-0 the rest of the way.

Phillip Lenoir, Logan Ray and Hayes each went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. Hayes had a double, and Lenoir had a triple.

Clay Cunningham took the loss on the mound.