Thursday April 14th 

 WP - Pichman

Thursday, April 14^th, PHU traveled to Northeast High School to play in the PCAC Championship.  Palm Harbor looking to win its first ever PCAC crown was victorious win a decisive 8-0 win with great pitching and plenty of offense. 

Senior John Pichman started for the Canes and shut down Northeast in his four innings of work.  Pichman allowed no runs, only two hits while striking out seven in his outing.  Senior Colt Mink came in relief as the hard-throwing lefty also impressed in his two innings allowing no runs, one hit and four strikeouts.  Senior Riley Degnan came in to close the last inning and needed only nine pitches to retire the Vikings 1-2-3 to end the game and preserve the shutout victory.

Offensively, led by Senior Adam Jurco and Senior Riley Degnan bats, Palm Harbor scored early and kept it going.  Senior AJ Hrica (2-5, run scored) led the game off with a double in the first inning.  Degnan (4-5, 3 runs scored, stolen base) lined a basehit advancing Hrica to third.  Jurco (2-4, 4 RBI, SAC, stolen base, run scored) lifts deep fly ball to right scoring Hrica for the early 1-0 lead.

PHU put a few more runs on the board in the third inning as Hrica and Degnan each singled to lead off the inning.  Jurco lines out hard to shortstop doubling up Hrica.  Senior John Pichman (3 walks, HBP) is hit by a pitch advancing Degnan to second.  Freshman Mitch Farris comes in to run for Pichman.  Senior Brian Brown (walk, HBP, reached on error) is also plunked loading the bases.  Sophomore Ryan Lahaney laces a sharp single scoring Degnan and speedy Farris for the 3-0 lead. 

Palm Harbor plated three more runs in the fourth inning as Junior Carter Wilson (1-2, walk, 2 HBP, stolen base) receives a hard fast ball in the middle of the back to earn first base.  Degnan once again connects with a hard single advancing Hrica to third.  Degnan steals second.  Jurco hits a base hit scoring Wilson and advancing Degnan to third.  Jurco steals second.  Pichman walks to load the bases as Farris comes into run for Pichman.  Brown reaches on an error from the shortstop scoring Degnan and Jurco as Farris takes third for the 6-0 lead.

With PHU pitchers shutting out the Vikings, The Canes put two more on the board in the seventh inning when Wilson, continuing to wear the bullseye target, get hit by another pitch.  Degnan scolds a line drive to left center for a single advancing Wilson to third as Degnan alertly takes second on throw.  Junior Nick Bell comes into run for Degnan.  Jurco picks up two more RBI’s hitting a single scoring Wilson and Bell making the score 8-0 and the eventual end of game score.

Palm Harbor travels to Newsome on Tuesday, April 19^th in their first district game.  First pitch slated for 4:00 pm.