panthers » Sandra Day O'Connor Panthers

O’Connor vs. Stevens – 4/30/2010

The air was heavy with humidity, and the drama was just as thick, as our O’Connor baseball Panthers battled the Stevens Falcons for the district championship Friday night at Northside Stadium. In the end, it was all pitching and defense as the Panthers pulled out a 1-0 victory to win the District 28-5A title for the second year in a row, finishing with a 14-2 district record.

Once again it was O’Connor senior Mark McGraw battling Stevens’ Rene Solis in a strong pitching duel, their second such matchup this season. McGraw finished the night with 10 big strikeouts and allowed only a bouncing single up the middle late in the game, narrowly missing a no-hitter. In the first inning, Panther 3^rd baseman T.J. Greene reached second on a Falcons throwing error. McGraw followed with a looping double to left, scoring Greene for what would prove to be the only run of the game for both teams. Junior Wes Fleming ran for McGraw, but was unable to score.

The O’Connor defense flexed its muscle in the first inning, as 1^st baseman Tyler Mitchell made a great over-the-shoulder running catch behind first base in foul territory, and catcher Jason Matyszczyk threw out Falcons’ speed demon Keyon Barnes trying to steal. McGraw got into the defensive act himself a couple of times during the game, throwing out runners on bunts, including a runner going to second on an attempted sacrifice. Stevens managed to hit a couple of long drives into the right centerfield gap, but the outfield speed of O’Connor seniors Jacob Galm and Patrick Thrash turned them into routine outs. Matyszczyk was perhaps the unsung defensive hero of the night, however, throwing out 6 strikeout victims at 1^st base. He was a wall behind the plate all night, which allowed McGraw to use his devastating changeup and slider on 2-strike counts to the Stevens hitters. The pitches usually wound up in the dirt as swinging strikeouts, and Matyszczyk had to keep the ball in front of him, pick up, and throw to first for the out. Thanks in no small part to Matyszczyk, McGraw overpowered the Stevens hitters all night long.

Offensively, Panther shortstop Landon Thompson added a single to right field in the 4^th inning for O’Connor’s third hit of the night, but that was all Solis allowed. Fist bumps to McGraw, of course, for another fantastic pitching performance, and to Matyszczyk for his work behind the plate. Fist bumps also to Mitchell for his catch behind 1^st base, and to Greene who again somehow found a way to get on base and score. Most importantly, fist bumps to the entire Panther team, as they wore black armbands in memory of their fellow student and friend, Matt McKenzie. Classy! O’Connor has a date with the Judson Rockets next week as they begin post season play. Good luck Panthers!

O'Connor vs. Taft April 19th

No Responses »

The O’Connor Panther baseball team avenged their only district loss of the season Monday night at Northside Stadium by beating the Taft Raiders 10-0 in 6 innings. O’Connor senior Mark McGraw pitched very efficiently once again, striking out 7, walking 2, and allowing just 2 hits in the complete game victory.

Catcher Jason Matyszczyk was responsible for the Panthers’ first run of the game in the second inning, when he doubled to left to lead off the inning, was wild pitched to 3rd, and later scored on a passed ball, giving O’Connor a 1-0 lead.

Shortstop Landon Thompson had drawn a base on balls following Matyszczyk’s hit, and left fielder Will Salazar had singled but was erased on a double play to end the inning. The 3rd and 4th innings proved tough for Taft starting pitcher Chris Johnson, as he walked six over those two innings. The Panthers made it hurt, scoring 4 runs in both innings by collecting RBI singles from McGraw and 3rd baseman T.J. Greene, a bases loaded walk from designated hitter Mason Brauchle, a sacrifice fly by Salazar, a beautiful RBI squeeze bunt for a base hit by Matyszczyk, and a big 2 RBI single to left field by Thompson.

O’Connor turned a sweet Miranda to Thompson to Mitchell 4-6-3 double play up the middle in the 5th inning to keep the Raiders scoreless. That brought the game to the bottom of the sixth. Greene led off with a walk and moved to 2nd on McGraw’s second hit of the night, a looping single to left. Matyszczyk then closed the deal quickly by hitting a hard ground ball down the line, just beyond the reach of the Taft 3rd sacker, driving Greene in from 2nd base for run number 10 for the Panthers. The run rule-shortened game moved O’Connor to 10-1 in district play, keeping them all alone in first place.

Junior speedster Wes Fleming appeared twice as a pinch runner in the game. Fist bumps to Matyszczyk for his nice squeeze bunt and multi-hit game, and to McGraw for another very efficient pitching performance.

volleyball

O’Connor shortstop Landon Thompson looks closely at a pitch during the Taft game.

volleyball

O’Connor shortstop Landon Thompson looks closely at a pitch during the Taft game.

volleyball

Panther 1st baseman Tyler Mitchell ready to receive a throw across the infield on a Taft batter Monday night, while the base umpire prepares to make the out call.

volleyball

Panther hitter Jason Matyszczyk lays down a perfect squeeze bunt for a base hit against Taft Monday night.

volleyball

O’Connor center fielder Jacob Galm slides home safely against Taft, while the Raider coaching staff looks on.

Panthers vs. Stevens March 26th

No Responses »

Our Panther baseball team rode the arm of Mark McGraw, and relied on good defense and a little timely hitting to turn back a very good Stevens team Friday night at Northside Stadium. O’Connor improved their district record to 7-1 by winning 3-2 in a hard-fought, close game. McGraw pitched probably his best, most dominant game of the season, despite giving up his first earned run of the year. McGraw struck out 11 and allowed only two hits while walking no one. McGraw did hit a batter early after a disputed call the pitch before that may have been strike three.

The Panthers struck first in their half of the first after 3rd baseman T.J. Greene laced a 1 out single to right, and moved to 2nd base when McGraw looped a single of his own to right. After catcher Jason Matyszczyk drew a 2 out walk, Greene scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch. In the Stevens half of the 2nd inning, Panther 2nd baseman Matt Miranda made a highlight catch on the run in foul territory near the right field line, but Stevens managed to scratch out a run on a bad hop infield ground ball. O’Connor centerfielder Jacob Galm singled to left in the bottom of the second after Nolan Polansky was hit by a pitch, but the Panthers could not push either of them around to score. The score remained tied at 1 until the 4th when opposing pitcher Rene Soliz homered to left off McGraw for the first of only two Stevens hits on the day, giving Stevens a 2-1 lead. The lead was short-lived, though, as McGraw stroked a 2-out single between 1st and 2nd in the Panther half, his second hit of the game. Matyszczyk and O’Connor shortstop Landon Thompson followed with back to back extra base hits, which pushed 2 runs across for the Panthers. Thompson tried to score from 2nd on a Mason Brauchle ground ball that found its way into the outfield, but a good throw by the Stevens left fielder cut Thompson down at the plate. Stevens added a double to right center in the 7th inning, but that was all McGraw and the O’Connor defense allowed. Stevens attempted a daring squeeze play, but McGraw fielded the bunt cleanly and flipped the ball to Matyszczyk who tagged the runner out at the plate on a close play. The Panthers closed out the 3-2 win on a quiet ground ball to Greene at 3rd for the last out.

Senior Patrick Thrash and junior Wes Fleming appeared as pinch runners, with Thrash contributing a stolen base. Fist bumps to Panther 1st baseman Tyler Mitchell for a great run-saving scoop early in the game, to Matt Miranda for his running catch, to Mark McGraw for an outstanding pitching performance, to Jason Matyszczyk and Landon Thompson for their big 2 out hits in the 5th inning, and to Matyszczyk again for 6 strikeout assists the hard way.

Panthers won 3-2

Panther leadoff batter Jacob Galm keeps his hands inside ball as he swings at an inside pitch.

Panther 1st baseman Tyler Mitchell takes a big cut while the Stevens bench looks on.

O’Connor shortstop Landon Thompson drives a pitch into right center for a double that plates the tying run for the Panthers.

O’Connor shortstop Landon Thompson gets tangled up with the Stevens catcher on a play at the plate.

O’Connor catcher Jason Matyszczyk puts the tag on the Stevens runner trying to score on a squeeze play in the 7th.

Panthers Softball v. Clark March 12th

No Responses »

OC baseball v Warren

No Responses »

O’Connor baseball fans could finally enjoy the weather as well as the game Friday night at Northside Stadium as they watched the Panthers break open a close game late, winning 12-2 over the Warren Warriors, and move to 3-0 in District play.
Mark McGraw pitched the entire game for the Panthers, giving up only four hits and allowing two unearned runs, while striking out 12 Warrior batters. The Warren starting pitcher used slow and slower to keep Panther hitters off balance through the first 6 innings, allowing only an RBI single to T.J. Greene and a 2 RBI double to Jacob Galm in the 2nd inning to give O’Connor a 3-0 lead early. Galm continued his recent hot hitting going 3 for 4 for the night. Will Salazar executed a beautiful sacrifice bunt in the 3rd inning, moving 2 runners over, but O’Connor could not capitalize. The Panthers also could not take advantage of a Nolan Polansky single in the 4th, while allowing the Warriors to scratch for 2 runs in their half of the inning.
The score was 3-2 going into the sixth, when Will Salazar and Chance Davenport each drew walks, which lead to Salazar scoring from 3rd base on a Warren error, extending the Panthers’ lead to 4-2 going into the 7th. That’s when the floodgates opened for O’Connor. Jacob Galm’s third hit of the night, and walks to Mark McGraw, Will Salazar, Chance Davenport, and Galm in his second at-bat of the inning, combined with hits by Jason Matyszczyk, Landon Thompson, Patrick Thrash, and a fielder’s choice RBI from Nolan Polansky, along with a Warrior error, accounted for 8 big Panther runs that put the game out of reach. Matyszczyk had a double, single, and 4 RBI in the O’Connor 7th. McGraw finished the game strong from the mound, getting the last three outs in the bottom of the 7th with no problem, as O’Connor turned a tight game into a route at the end.
Wills Raba and Lee Manning filled in at first base in the late innings, while Wes Fleming and Martin Tomlin saw action as pinch runners. Fist bumps to Will Salazar for his sacrifice bunt in the 3rd , to Jason Matyszczyk for his great defensive play early in the game on an attempted bunt, and to Mark McGraw for his fine pitching performance.