BENTON — The Benton Panthers defeated Cabot 1-0 on Senior Night as four pitchers combined for a shutout May 1.
“We have a good group of seniors. Everyone knows their role on this team, and they have done a good job,” Benton head coach Mark Ballisteri said. “I think this group of seniors knows that it takes everyone to have a successful season, and they have done a good job with that.”
Evin Campbell, Austin Hill, Blake Mitchem and Sawyer Wilson each pitched for Benton, combining for eight strikeouts. The Panthers scored their only run in the bottom of the first inning when Caleb Curry delivered an RBI single. Curry finished 2 for 2 at the plate.
Campbell allowed two hits, no runs, struck out four and walked one in two innings. Wilson gave up one hit, no runs, struck out three and did not issue a walk in two innings. Mitchem allowed two hits, no runs and struck out one without a walk, while Hill allowed two hits, no runs and one walk in one inning.
“Our game plan was to get all four of them at least one inning. Cabot is one of the best teams in 6A, and we felt it would be really good for them to face their hitters,” Ballisteri said.
Ballisteri said the team uses nonconference games to prepare for postseason play.
“We really use these nonconference games to prepare us for conference games headed for the postseason. It was Senior Night, so I wanted to allow all our seniors to play in the game,” he said.
The Panthers will play a conference doubleheader at Sylvan Hills today, May 5, with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m.