Panhandle 13U takes district title

The Panhandle 13U All Stars are the Dizzy Dean district champs and will travel to St. Petersburg this weekend. The team will compete at the state level for a chance to head to the Dizzy Dean World Series.

In Game One, Panhandle defeated the Mavericks 13-6 with Dillon Bennett picking up the win. Bennett went two innings, giving up no runs before handing over to Reid Long in the third inning. Long allowed three runs before being relieved by Hunter Jordan, who finished the third and went the fourth inning, giving up three runs. Payton Dixon closed out the final two innings, giving up no runs.

Offensively for Panhandle, Bennett was 3-for-3 with a walk, followed by Grant McDonald, who was 1-for-2, including a homerun and three walks. Hunter Johnson was 2-for-4, with Johnathan Vickers going 1-for-2.

In Game Two, Panhandle defeated Central 16-2 with Bennett again picking up the win. He allowed no runs, no hits and no walks through two innings. Long came on in the third inning, went one and a third innings and gave up no runs. Vickers came on in relief and gave up no runs, with Dixon closing out the game, giving up two runs.

Offensively, Jonathan Sikes and Bennett both homered, with Sikes going 2-for-5 and Bennett going 2-for-3. Josh Taylor was 2-for-4 with a walk, while McDonald was 3-for-5. On the board with one hit were Johnathan Vickers, Trent Moats and Trent Childs.

Game Three was a 10-8 win for Panhandle over Crestview, a game that pitted the Panhandle 13U team against Crestview’s 14U team. Bennett went two innings, giving up no runs. He handed over to Jordan, who went three innings, giving up two runs in three innings. Sikes came on in relief, going one and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs, before Dixon came on to close out the game, giving up two runs.

At the plate, Panhandle was led by Sikes, who was 2-for-4 including a home run, followed by Edwards, who was 3-for-5. McDonald and Moats were 2-for-3, followed by Johnson, who was 2-for-4. Dixon, Bennett and Josh Taylor all had one hit each.

In the championship game, Panhandle took a 13-9 win over the Mavericks. Long got the nod on the mound, going two and two-thirds innings and giving up five runs, before giving way to Moats. Vickers came on for two-thirds of an inning before Bennett closed out the game, allowing no runs.

McDonald led the team offensively, going 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored, followed by Sikes, who was 3-for-5. Taylor was 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored, with Edwards 2-for-4 with a walk and one run scored. Vickers was 2-for-4, Bennett 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored. Trent Childs was 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored.

The top two teams in the state will travel to South Haven, Miss. in July for the Dizzy Dean Worlds Series.