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On this date in area sports history …
Four years ago on this date, March 30, 2005, the North High School baseball team improved to 2-0 by beating Southeastern 19-9. Complete story on the jump.
Young Panthers looking for team bond
New faces give North new identity, but team is still winning so far in ’05
By DAVID JABLONSKI News-Sun Sports Writer
You can field all the ground balls you want, take cuts in the batting cage until your hands bleed and whip fastballs at the catcher until you’ve worn out the mound or your arm, but it takes more to become a team.
It takes time and experience. That’s what the North baseball team is seeking two games into the season.
“It is hard because right now we’re not really a team,” senior K.J. Norris said. “We’ve got to step up and make the plays that need to be made to become a team. Right now, we ’ other that well.”
Evidently, even with a new cast of characters, North does still know how to win.
The Panthers beat Southeastern 19-9 Wednesday at North, needing five innings to bring into effect the run rule. That victory, coupled with a 9-7 win over Greenon on Tuesday, puts North at 2-0.
Wins are expected at North after it won a total of 48 games in the past two seasons, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. The Panthers have just three starters back from last season.
“There’s a lot of growing pains, and there’s a lot of baseball to be learned with a young group,” North coach Mark Stoll said. “When you get out here with a young group, sometimes you forget how advanced some of your guys were last year.”
Neither team looked too advanced Wednesday, but the season is brand new. Plus, with the poor weather this month, teams are just now seeing the outside of the gym on a consistent basis.
The Trojans, who fell to 0-2, committed four errors and let 11 North hitters reach base by walk or hit batter.
“We’re having trouble making the routine plays. Both teams were,” Southeastern coach Rick Woods said. “They did a little better job of putting the ball in play than we did. We had nine strikeouts in five innings. This game, whoever put the ball in play the most was going to come out ahead.”
North struck out just three times and had 11 hits to Southeastern’s nine. North lead-off hitter Justin Webb went 3-for-5 with two doubles, and Norris also had three hits.
At this point, even if Norris has the bat working, he’s still getting used to his new role.
“I was behind Whitney Moore and Chris Haycox (last season),” he said. “They led the way. Now it’s my turn. It’s a lot different.”
“All the seniors were kind of telling me how it’s done (last year). Now it’s my turn. When I tell (the younger players) how it’s supposed to be done, they kind of take it personally. Me I didn’t take it personally at all. They think I’m getting on them, but I’m not getting on them at all.”
North 305 74 — 19 11 3 Southeastern 003 24 — 9 9 4
Smith, Channell (4), Litteral (4), A.J. Woods (5) and A. Woods. Monke, Fisher (4), Hilling (5) and Collett, Lemmert (5). HIGHLIGHTS — SE: Houston 2-2, 2B; Coate 2-3, A.J. Woods 2-3, 2 2Bs, Cooke 2-3, 2B. North: Webb 3-5, 2 2B, 4 RBIs; Norris 3-4, 3B, 3 RBIs; Gray 2-3, 2 RBIs.
Southeastern, 0-2, plays at Xenia Christian at 4:30 today. North, 2-0, plays at home against Kenton Ridge at 4:30 today.
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