Miranda Pitches Panthers To Title
SOUTH WHITLEY – It was a repeat performance for the NorthWood baseball team Monday night.
The Panthers made it two straight sectional championships by downing Fairfield 7-2.
Freshman Vincent Miranda fired a four-hitter as NorthWood topped the Falcons in the title tilt of the Class 3-A Whitko Sectional.
NorthWood (21-5) advances to play Yorktown (16-12) Saturday at 11 a.m. in the first semifinal game of the Bellmont Regional. The Panthers lost to Norwell in the regional final in 2013.
Blake Cleveland slugged a solo home run in the first inning Monday to give the Panthers a lead they would never relinquish.
Miranda also had two hits and scored a pair of runs for the champions, coached by Zach Benko.
Chad Sellers had a double and two RBI for NorthWood. Kyle McCoy and Tanner Farmwald each had a double and an RBI and Will Kirkwood two singles for the Panthers.
Miranda struck out three and walked one in raising his season mark to 7-2 on the hill.
Tony Zook had two hits, including a home run, to lead Fairfield. Senior Austin Christner took the pitching loss for the Falcons.
Fairfield finishes its season at 20-8.