Lecanto bests Crystal River, brings home The Bat
LECANTO, Fla. (BVM) — In college football, the Florida Gators and the Georgia Bulldogs square off in their rivalry for the Okefenokee Oar. Florida Atlantic and Florida International compete for the Don Shula Award, Florida State and Virginia for the Jefferson-Eppes Trophy.
But in Florida high school baseball, Lecanto and Crystal River battle for The Bat, officially known as the Joe D. Rigney Memorial Bat. The Bat is a 6-foot replica Babe Ruth Louisville Slugger that has been feuded for since 1991. The bat is now named after late Panthers ballplayer Joe Rigney who passed away in a car accident following his 1993 graduation.
This year, The Bat gets to stay in Lecanto as the Panthers downed the Pirates by a final score of 12-5 last week. With the Panthers entering at just 5-16 and the Pirates at 8-13, a win was needed by both sides.
Multiple Panthers showed up big in this matchup with Evan Silverthorne leading the way. He went 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs. Nick Sloane went 3-for-5 and teammate Jonah Pattridge had two RBIs alongside two walks.
Every player in Lecanto’s lineup reached base at least twice as they dominated from first pitch to finish, having an answer to every Crystal River run. So until next year, The Bat will stay home in Lecanto.
