By By BRIAN HAINES
CHOCOWINITY — Chuck Norris was missing in action for Southside as the pitcher let up five runs in a third of an inning as the Seahawks lost to Northside 6-3 on Monday night.
The Panthers pounced on Norris early as their first three batters reached based, setting up cleanup hitter Will Allen for a two RBI single to give Northside a quick 2-0 lead.
Eric Daniels knocked a sac fly to left to bring in William Rushton for the Panthers’ third run. After Tyler Woolard singled, Holden Cox KO’d Norris with a single that scored Allen and Woolard to extend Northside’s lead to five.
Cox would be the last batter Norris faced as he was pulled in favor of freshman Sam Jarman, who got the Seahawks out of the inning by inducing two consecutive ground outs.
A strong wind sailed through the stadium, but it had no effect on Northside starter William Rushton, who breezed through the Seahawks’ lineup.
Rushton picked up the win throwing five shutout innings, striking out two batters and allowing only two hits.
The Panthers’ hurler was also aided by a solid infield defense that made several tough plays and didn’t commit an error until the sixth.
Arm trouble forced Panthers’ coach Addison Bass to pull Rushton after five innings in favor of Daniels. Bass said he would rather error on the side of caution when it comes to his players.
Northside tacked on its final run in the second inning as Allen blasted a double to score Swain for the team’s sixth and final run.
Allen finished the day going 3-3 and driving in a game-high three RBIs.
Jarman settled down after allowing the Panthers to pick up a run and pitched effectively the rest of the game. In 6 2/3 innings Jarman allowed one run on four hits, with three of those hits coming in the second inning.
Lewis said Jarman has progressed nicely throughout the season.
With Rushton departing in the fifth, it didn’t take long for the Southside hitters to get adjusted to Daniels.
After the Panthers’ pitcher got two outs in the sixth, he struggled to close out the inning as he walked Fitzgerald Parks, let up a single to Brad Boyd and walked Eric Boyd to load the bases for Justin Hill.
The Southside first baseman came through with a clutch double that scored both Parks and Brad Boyd to cut the Panthers’ lead to 6-2.
Hill went 2-3 for the night with two RBIs to lead the Seahawks.
Southside threatened again in the seventh inning as they were able to get a few base runners on board, but the best they could muster was an RBI single by Parks for the Seahawks’ third and final run.
For Southside (5-16), Monday’s game was the final one of the season.
Monday was the last game for Seahawks’ seniors Lee Wood, Norris, Parks, Raphael Robertson and Hill.
The Panthers (10-10) will continue to play out their season as they advanced to the state playoffs.
Northside 510 000 0 — 6 8 2
Southside 000 002 1 — 3 5 1
WP: William Rushton; LP: Chuck Norris
Hitters: N — Austin Swain 1-3 (R), Will Allen 3-3 (2B, 3 RBI), Tyler Woolard 1-3 (2 RBI); S — Fitzgerald Parks 1-3 (RBI), Brad Boyd 2-4 (R), Justin Hill 2-3 (2 RBI).