BASEBALL: PJHS holds on against Sparta
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pinckneyville Junior High School (District #50) will now have two shots at a fall sports Regional title on Tuesday afternoon, after the baseball Junior Panthers held on for an 8-7 win over Sparta on Friday.
The Junior Panthers had the game in hand at 8-3, but ran into some trouble in the seventh inning before Jackson Brand finished the game off with a strikeout as the tying run stood at first base.
PJHS will now face Trico at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday in Campbell Hill to decide the champion for Class M's Region IV. At 4:00 p.m. in Pinckneyville, the Junior Lady Panthers' softball team will try for a Regional championship at Greg Hale Field.
Clayton Houghland pitched the first five innings for the Junior Panthers and picked up the win. Houghland allowed five hits, four walks and three runs while fanning seven Sparta batters. Brand finished off the last two innings, allowing six runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Every Pinckneyville starter reached via a base hit or walk in the game. Houghland (2-3, R, 2 2B, BB) and Brand (2-4, R) led the way, each with a pair of hits.
Caulden Lazenby (1-4), Dylan Carns (1-3, R, BB), Justin Bauersachs (1-2, 3 R, BB, HBP), Peyton Emling (2-4), Brian Kling (0-1, R, BB, HBP), Hunter Hicks (1-3) and Miles Chandler (1-2, R) also reached base for PJHS against Sparta. Brady Louis (R)and Cale Jausel also saw action for the Junior Panthers.
Pinckneyville is scheduled to host the Class M State Tournament beginning Saturday, October 1.
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