The Lufkin Panthers made a strong statement in their District 10-5A opener by overwhelming the Jacksonville Indians with a decisive 10-0 victory on Tuesday night at Lufkin High School. From the very first pitch, the Panthers demonstrated their focus and determination, setting the tone for the game.
Senior pitcher Miggy Flores delivered an impressive performance, throwing a complete-game shutout in just 53 pitches. Flores was in control throughout the match, striking out three batters and allowing only three hits without issuing a walk. “We started out with Miggy on the bump, and he did a really good job of getting us to the dugout,” said Lufkin head coach John Cobb. “He just went after them. They put the ball in play, and we played really good defense.”
The Lufkin offense was equally relentless, as they scored in every inning. Demarea Rodriguez led the charge with a two-run homer and a double, showcasing the team”s depth as seven different players contributed hits. The Panthers scored four runs in the third, three in the fourth, and one in the fifth, effectively enforcing the run rule.
Lufkin”s scoring began in the second inning when Rodriguez hit a ground-rule double, followed by Ryder Sepulvado driving in the first run with an RBI single. Skyler Perez added another RBI single, and a wild pitch allowed Sepulvado to score, putting the Panthers ahead 3-0.
In the third inning, Lufkin continued their offensive onslaught. After LaTavian Forney drew a leadoff walk, Grant Stafford hit an RBI triple deep into left field, extending the lead to 4-0. Mack Slaton contributed an RBI hit that turned into an error, making it 5-0. Rodriguez capped the inning with his two-run blast to left, pushing the score to 7-0.
The Panthers added two more runs in the fourth inning, with Steven Hernandez scoring on another wild pitch and Slaton driving in a run with a sacrifice fly. The final run came in the fifth as pinch hitter Jackson Weibe hustled for a bloop double, and Perez drove him in with a sacrifice fly, sealing the 10-0 victory.
Lufkin, now holding a record of 7-2-1, will continue their campaign in the Integra Classic, starting with a match against Port Neches-Groves on Thursday at 11 a.m.
