Starr’s Mill sophomore Adam Goodman was not scheduled to start Thursday night’s game against Whitewater, but he fired a complete game four-hitter to lock up the Panthers first outright region title since 2006.
Goodman threw 90 pitches and gave up just two earned runs, getting out of a rough jam in the sixth in which the tying run reached third.
“He came through for us. He was pushed into duty and he pitched a great game. I’m proud of him,” said Starr’s Mill Head Coach Brent Moseley.
The Panthers beat a streaking Whitewater team that had won 10 straight region games including an 11-1 victory over Starr’s Mill on March 25.
The Panthers finished the season 22-4, 17-3 in region play and will head to the state playoffs representing the 4-AAAAA region.
“I’m proud of my guys playing such a tough game with a playoff-like atmosphere,” Moseley said. “Having two teams that are basically three miles apart play for a region championship just goes to show our type of baseball. It’s great for our community.”
Whitewater scored the first run of the game in the top of the first. Mathew Rhodes hit a leadoff double and later scored on a sacrifice groundout from Brandon Bell.
After Rhodes’ first-inning double, Goodman sat down the next 11 batters he faced.
The Panthers would plate their three runs in the third. Brett Jeffares hit a two-RBI triple to give the Panthers the 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, senior Artemis Kadkhodaian laced a single past the second baseman to score Jeffares and give Starr’s Mill a 3-1 lead.
Whitewater added a run in the fourth inning but missed a promising opportunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Zach Hudson led off with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error, putting the tying run within reach with one out. Goodman plunked the next batter he faced and found himself with runners on the corners and a potential Whitewater rally.
Goodman kept his composure, however, striking out the next batter and inducing a groundout to preserve the 3-2 lead.
“I think him hitting that batter worked out well for us,” said Moseley. “It allowed our defense to play back and Goodman did the rest.”
The loss to Starr’s Mill drops Whitewater (18-5, 15-4) to third in the region with only two games left to play. The Panthers will begin the state playoff tournament Friday, May 3 with its first-round opponent to be determined.
This story has been updated to reflect the correct region classification Starr’s Mill competes in
