Cardinals downed 12-3 by surging Panthers

Cardinals returned home on Friday night after a hard-fought road victory in Barrie. But it was the Kitchener Panthers who came out swinging with a dominant 12-3 victory.

The Panthers got off to a strong start, scoring a run in the first inning. The Cardinals struggled to find their rhythm early on and remained scoreless in the first two innings. However, they managed to put up two runs in the bottom of the third inning, narrowing the gap.

In the top of the third inning, the Panthers answered back with two runs of their own, regaining their lead. They continued to build on their advantage, scoring two more runs in the sixth inning and another run in the seventh inning.

The Cardinals tried to mount a comeback, scoring a run in the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Panthers' dominant performance. The Panthers sealed the victory with a strong offensive display in the eighth inning, scoring five runs and extending their lead to 12-3.

The Panthers' offense was firing on all cylinders throughout the game. Blake Jacklin, the left fielder, had an exceptional performance, going 4-for-6 at the plate and scoring four runs. Leader, the center fielder, contributed with a hit and an RBI, while Gonzalez, the shortstop, had a productive day with a hit, two walks, and an RBI. Wilson, the first baseman, hit a home run and drove in two runs. Jarvis, the right fielder, had a solid performance, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

On the pitching side, Jose Vasquez had a strong outing for the Panthers. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out ten batters. He earned the win for his impressive performance. Bruinsma, Schnarr, and Reid also made appearances on the mound for the Panthers, collectively limiting the Cardinals' offense.

For the Cardinals, Keyes and Duncan each contributed with a hit and an RBI. Bernardo also had a hit and drove in a run. Ring started the game on the mound for the Cardinals, pitching five innings and allowing three runs (one earned). However, he was tagged with the loss.

Overall, the Kitchener Panthers showcased their offensive prowess and strong pitching, securing a convincing 12-3 victory over the Hamilton Cardinals. The win improved the Panthers' record to 3-1-0 on the season, while the Cardinals dropped to 3-2-0.

Game boxscore can be found here.

The Cardinals play on Sunday afternoon against the Barrie Baycats in KX94.7's Country Day at the Ballpark.