It was all Panthers on Panther Drive Monday night as the Class 3A 4th ranked baseball squad swept Chariton to remain unbeaten in the South Central Conference 9-0 and 8-5, while the class 4A 15th ranked softball squad shut out Chariton 6-0. In game one on the baseball diamond, Beau Leisure threw a one hit gem with ten strikeouts. Trey Wight had the big bat crushing a homer and getting five RBI. In game two, Hayden Hatch, Trent Kingery, and Leisure all had RBIs with Leisure’s being a home run. Across the way on Panther Drive, the softball Panthers also got a great pitching performance as Ashlyn Finarty allowed just three hits in a 6-0 victory. The balls were flying out again, as Finarty and Brittany Bacorn hit home runs. Bacorn knocked in three RBI and Finarty drove in two. Knoxville’s pitching was never a question this season with the tandem of Finarty and Ciara Heffron. Coach Carla Smith tells KNIA/KRLS Sports, she can put either one in the circle and feel confident.

Smith: “We continue to evaluate them game by game. Sometimes one of them comes up and says they’re a little sore, so we go with the other one. It keeps other teams on their toes not knowing who we’re going with, and it gives us an advantage.”

The Panthers will continue their week as baseball will stay on Panther Drive to host Newton while softball will head to Pella for another edition of the Red Rock Rivalry. Listen for live coverage on both KNIA and KRLS.