Titus, Reordan spark Panthers

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PHOENIX, Ariz. — D.J. Titus and Brett Reordan came through for South Medford at the plate and in the field on Friday, allowing the Panthers to exit the 33-team Coach Bob National Invitational on a positive note.

Titus and Reordan had key hits in a seven-run fifth inning for South Medford and backed that up with game-saving plays in the field in the sixth to allow the Panthers to edge Lewis Palmer High of Colorado 9-7 in six innings.

With Lewis Palmer up 7-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Titus opened the inning with a leadoff home run to spark the Panthers (6-3).

After back-to-back singles by Steven Lines and Bo Walker, John Adamson drew a walk to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Griff Boyd added another run, as was the case when Josh Camp reached safely on a throwing error by shortstop Caleb Wade.

Mike Williamson kept the momentum going with a single and A.J. Palazzolo walked to load the bases again. Camp then scored on a balk, and Reordan greeted relief pitcher John Caparelli with a two-run double to give South an 8-7 advantage. Titus then brought home another run when his fly ball was dropped by right fielder Aaron Hunsman.

"What was nice about that is we were down and we could've really folded our tents on the last day of a seven-day road trip," said South Medford coach Tom Britton. "I think the home run that D.J. hit kinda kick-started us a little bit."

"The next thing you know it all turned around and we put seven up on the board, and it held up for us."

But not without a little excitement as Lewis Palmer opened the top of the sixth with a single by Hunsman and a double by Evan Stewart. Steven Leonard followed with a fly ball to Titus in right field, and the senior immediately fired a bullet to home plate to nab Hunsman at the plate after he tagged up at third.

The third out didn't come easy, either, as Bobby Hansen scorched a shot down the third-base line but was denied by a diving grab from Reordan to close out the contest due to a time limit.

"The two great plays to back up that seven-run inning were the highlight of that game," said Britton.

Lewis Palmer 005 020 — 7 12 4

South Medford 100 17x — 9 8 0

Moore-Liester, Caparelli (5) and Leonard; Mi. Britton, Camp (3) and Williamson. W — Camp (2-1). L — Caparelli. 2B — LP: Stewart 2, Leonard, Bryant; SM: Boyd, Reordan. HR — SM: Titus (1).

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