Consistency at the plate was a key factor for the Odessa High and Permian baseball teams in the second District 2-6A matchup of a three-game series Friday at Pressly Field.
The Bronchos struggled to find a rhythm at bat, while the Panthers succeeded to win the contest 8-1.
Permian won the series opener 14-4 in six innings Thursday at McCanlies Field.
Permian baseball coach Tate Criswell said getting to play a rival and district opponent three times is important for him and his players.
“I think it’s big, I think it’s more like baseball to play a series,” Criswell said. “There’s a reason why you play a series to find out who’s overall the best team in that particular week, or season or whatever that may be.”
Similar to the first game, the Panthers wasted no time building an early advantage.
Sebastian Bravo got the offense going for Permian with a line drive single to left field, followed up by a deep double from Caleb Boswell to center field.
Bravo used his speed to reach home plate on Boswell’s hit, giving Permian the lead.
Xavier Melendez and Garrett Stacker joined Boswell on base after being hit by pitches to load the bases before Jake Glasman’s turn at bat.
Glasman extended the advantage with a triple to deep right field, clearing the bases and putting Permian up 4-0 in the top of the first.
The scoring slowed down through the second and third innings as both teams tightened their defense.
Odessa High made one of its strongest efforts on defense in the bottom of the third when the Panthers had two runners on base, one in scoring position.
With one out, Jayven Gonzales struck out two consecutive batters to give the Bronchos some momentum to cut the lead.
They couldn’t capitalize, as their batters went down in order in the bottom of the fourth.
Permian extended its advantage with three hits in the fifth inning, bringing in three runners.
After an RBI single from Callan Warren scored Boswell, Caden Stiles helped the Panthers with a deep double to left field that brought in Warren and Garrett Stacker.
Although Odessa High (9-8-1 overall, 1-4 district) struggled to create offense through much of the game, the Bronchos briefly ended their hitting slump with three hits in the bottom of the sixth.
An RBI double from Jairo Guerrero scored Greg Estrada to avert the shutout.
Permian (16-3, 5-0) went on to score once more in the top of the seventh to secure the victory.
Odessa High coach Josh Hulin said his team’s back-to-back losses are a result of the talent Permian has built up in its program.
“Our team has got to compete a little harder because Permian is just loaded with talent from top to bottom,” Hulin said. “It looks like they have more kids playing baseball than they do football.”
The series will conclude with a neutral site matchup at 7 p.m. Saturday at Momentum Bank Ballpark in Midland.
With his team undefeated through its first five district games, Criswell said he there are little things he wants his players to shore up as they move forward.
“Baseball season and the baseball game from day to day is a marathon,” Criswell said. “We’ve just got to be able to stay locked in from the first pitch to the last out and we’re not doing a bad job of it.”
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
