Merry-go-round of hits and walks in second inning propels Panthers to CCC road victory

MACON, Mo. — The turf baseball field Macon High School installed in 2022 continues to show its benefits, like being able to absorb the rain from thunderstorms that knocked out the rest of the games scheduled for Tuesday across Northeast Missouri.

The opportunity to play was all Palmyra needed to open Clarence Cannon Conference play atop the standings.

An 11-run second inning that featured 14 consecutive batters reaching base safely propelled the Panthers to a 21-12 victory.

A three-run double with two outs in the first inning by Colby Jones gave Palmyra the lead before the second inning unfolded. Two outs were made on the basepaths as the lead ballooned to 14-0.

A single by Cade Lehman, a double by Brodie Webb and a hit batter loaded the bases to start the second before back-to-back walks were followed by three consecutive singles. Two more walks and two more singles made it 12-0 before Rylan Compton capped the inning with a two-run double.

In the third, Palmyra increased its advantage to 17-1 as Colby Cook blasted a three-run home run. Macon avoided the 10-run mercy rule by scoring five runs in the third and two each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. 

Palmyra tacked on four runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by Gavin Greving’s bases-clearing double.

Jones finished 4 for 6 with four RBIs, while Raeson Miller and Compton had three hits apiece, and Greving went 2 for 3 with five RBIs. Cook finished 2 for 3 with four runs scored and four RBIs. Ethan Tallman earned the victory, allowing two earned runs over the first four innings.