As we look at this season compared to the previous season of Starr’s Mill baseball, we see a whole lot of younger players and some players who have not had a lot of experience playing varsity because of the large graduating class last year. Because of this, the Panthers have had to get used to a different, slower style of play with a reliance on senior assists and a hard defense.

“We have to know that we’re not the team that we had last year so we have to play differently,” senior Nick Madison said. “Just [knowing] that the things that would get us wins last year, like scoring 10 runs, that’s just not going to happen this year.”

Starr’s Mill defeated the Central Lions 3-0 in the first game of their three-game series Tuesday. Their patience was tested with a slower game.

Seniors Madison, junior Brody Whitman, and freshman Max Mothershed each collected one of the three hits that led to the Panther win. 

Madison started off the scoring with a run off of senior Aiden Wilson’s hit in the second inning. Mothershed followed in the third inning scoring off of a sacrifice fly by senior Kyle Rudolph. The scoring continued in the third inning with Whitman scoring off of a double from senior Ashton Davidson.

“We have to realize our identity is not the same as last year,” Davidson said. ”We don’t hit as many home runs. We have to hit the ball on the ground, make [the other team] make errors, and get on base as a whole team.”

Rudolph opened the game pitching three strikeouts and only allowing four hits. Junior Brock Rein closed out the game as pitcher with three strikeouts and only allowing three hits.

“We have to know that we’re young and a lot of our kids, this is their first time playing on varsity since we had 12 seniors last year,” Madison said. “So we’ve got to take more time to work things through and make sure we get stuff right.”

The Panthers are 11-2 in the region and sit second behind Northside. 

The Panthers will play the next of the three game series against the Central Lions today at 5:30 p.m. at Central High School. Starr’s Mill hosts the final game in the series at 7 p.m. on April 4.