STATE CHAMPIONS!

Once again, the Panthers reign as 2A baseball state champions. Coach Jay Mitchell's squad defeated perennial power Leroy (ranked #1 throughout the season) 5-4 and 6-1 to claim the state title. Thomas Burrows and C. K. Irby combined to limit the hard-hitting south Alabama team to a single first-inning run and five singles in game 2. After Thomas allowed a first-inning run, C. K. Irby responded with a game-tying home run in the bottom of the inning and MH added two additional runs in the second and three in the third and the championship belonged to the Panthers. Josh Wear was 2-3 with a double and an RBI and Colby Smith was 1-2 with a double and an RBI. MHBS won game 1 on Tuesday evening behind three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs from Burrows and RBI singles by Luke Krieger and Austin Penter. Glenn Irby pitched five innings, striking out five, before C. K. came out to stop a late threat. C. K. pitched five innings over the two games, striking out six and allowing only two singles.

 

Strong pitching led MHBS to a 6-1, 6-3 sweep of area foe Lexington in the semi-finals. Freshmen pitchers Glenn Irby and Thomas Burrows picked up the wins with C. K. Irby finishing both games.

 

Senior C. K. Irby led the Panther hitters (9 HRs, 45 RBIs, 49 R, 20 SB, .400 BA). Thomas Burrows (.333 BA, 3 HRs, 41 RBIs, 25 R), Robert Walker (.355 BA, 4 HRs, 30 RBIs, 24 R), Glenn Irby (.396 BA, 1 HR, 30 RBIs, 36 R), Kyle Black (.380 BA, 44 R, 2 HRs, 29 RBIs), Austin Penter (.386 BA, 28 R, 18 RBIs) and Colby Smith (.304 BA, 1 HR 23 RBIs, 25 R) paced the MHBS offense. The Panthers stole 62 bases in 66 attempts this season. C. K. Irby led the way with 20 stolen bases, while Luke Krieger (.289 BA, 34 R, 16 RBIs) had 11 and Max Wright had nine.

 

The pitching was solid with C. K. Irby the staff ace. He is 6-0 with a 0.72 ERA and 93 Ks in 48 innings and Glenn posted a 10-2 record with a 1.80 ERA (71 Ks). Thomas Burrows was 7-2 (3.07 ERA, 55 Ks). Collin White added five wins, Colby Smith had three and Luke Krieger and Billy Williamson each had one.

 

PANTHERS WIN QUARTERFINAL SERIES

Senior C.K. struck out a season high 19 batters (15 consecutive outs by strike outs) and allowed only a single unearned run as MHBS took the second game of a doubleheader over Westbrook Christian 5-1. Fellow senior Robert Walker had a triple, two singles and two RBIs to lead the offense. Trent Tiffin added two singles and an RBI. MH won game 1 by a 7-2 score behind freshman Glenn Irby who struck out seven. Austin Penter's double, single and two RBIs keyed the hitting attack. Kyle Black had a double and single and Robert Walker added a two RBI double.

 

PANTHERS ADVANCE IN THE STATE PLAYOFFS WITH 8-5, 10-0 VICTORIES OVER CLEVELAND; BURROWS TOSSES PERFECT GAME

Senior C.K. hit a three-run home run and added two innings of shut-out relief as MHBS downed host Cleveland 8-5 in the first game of the second round of the state playoffs, then cruised in game two behind frehman Thomas Burrows' second no-hitter of the season. This time, however, no runner reached base as the young left-hander struck out six. Colby Smith hit the first home run of his varsity career to give MH a 9-0 lead in the fourth inning.

 

C.K. IRBY TOSSES PANTHERS' THIRD NO-HITTER AS MHBS ROARS INTO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS 12-2, 15-0

Senior C.K. Irby struck out 13 of the 17 batters he faced as the Panthers defeated Addison 15-0 in the second game of the opening round of the state playoffs. The game went five innings. Kyle Black and Glenn Irby both had three hits in the victory while C.K., Robert Walker, Will Harrison and Austin Penter added two hits each. C.K. also added three RBIs. Younger brother and freshman Glenn Irby was the winning pitcher in game one, recording seven strikeouts in the process. Thomas Burrows, Kyle Black, Robert Walker, Austin Penter and Colby Smith all had two hits to pace the 12-2 win.

 

BURROWS, IRBY TOSS NO-HITTERS

Freshman Thomas Burrows pitched like anyone but a freshman Feb. 25 as he gave the Panthers their initial win of 2010, a 3-0 decision over Waterloo in the opening round of the Lauderdale County Tournament. He struck out eight batters. Freshman Glenn Irby pitched a no-hitter and hit a home run in the second area game of the season, leading the Panthers to a 9-0 victory over Cherokee. Senior Samford signee C. K. Irby almost gave the Panthers their third diamond gem allowing only a single hit in the final inning in the 10-0 win over Hatton.

 

BASEBALL FIELD GETS A MAJOR FACELIFT

The school's baseball field features a major facelift this spring. A new section of reserved stadium seating is now located immediately behind home plate with a new press box and concession stand. The improvements are courtesy of an anonymous donor and many hours of donated labor.

 

C. K. IRBY SIGNS WITH SAMFORD UNIVERSITY

After entertaining offers from several schools, senior C. K. Irby has signed to play baseball for the Division I Samford University Bulldogs.