Blue Devils scratch across single runs in fourth and fifth innings to quell Panthers’ rally

QUINCY — A quick answer enabled the Quincy High School baseball team to fend off Camp Point Central on Tuesday at the QHS field.

After the Panthers scored four runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 7, a two-out RBI single by Brady Lowe regained the lead for the Blue Devils. They tacked on another run in the fifth and held Central scoreless the final three innings for a 9-7 victory.

A two-out single by Kaleb Bush in the fifth inning produced Quincy’s final run.

The Panthers (10-13) tagged Blue Devils starter Owen Zanger for three runs in the top of the first inning, getting a two-run double from Brydon Allison and an RBI single from Tanner Kindhart.

The Blue Devils (13-17) got their offense rolling in the second inning when Jansen Lawson led off with a single and scored when Gavin Powell reached on a one-out error. Bush singled to load the bases, and one out later, Kyle Taylor delivered a bases-clearing double.

Tykell Hammers followed with a two-run home run to left field to cap the six-run frame.

Powell’s RBI single in the third inning gave the Blue Devils a 7-3 lead, only to see it evaporate in the top of the fourth. The Panthers loaded the bases on a hit batter, a single and a fielder’s choice before an error resulted in two errors and Nate Peters followed with a two-run single.

Zanger picked up the victory, allowing five hits and five walks while striking out three over five innings. Lawson and Bush each had two of the Blue Devils’ eight hits.