By Justin Gottschalk
LIBERTY — April 29, 2005 – The Liberty Indians suffered an 8-4 loss to visiting Eldred Tuesday afternoon in a non-league game.
Eldred (3-4) skated to an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first on back to back hits after a leadoff walk.
Liberty (1-10) responded in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the Yellowjackets’ lead to one thanks to a long home run to left field by Jason Garritt.
Garritt, who was the Indians’ center fielder finished the day 2-for-4 with a triple on top of the homer.
But it was not enough for Liberty as Eldred caught fire on the top of the third. The Yellowjackets scored five runs off Liberty hurler Rob Silva in the frame and took a 7-1 lead. It was an advantage that they would not relinquish.
Leading the Yellowjackets’ offense were George Fountain and Patrick Kean. Fountain went 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Kean scored two runs.
Liberty scored two more runs in the bottom of the third to close the gap to 7-3.
However, the Indians would not get any closer in the last four innings.
Liberty designated hitter Pete Panagakos went 3-for-4 and knocked in a run.
“I thought Eldred played a tough game,” Liberty Coach Jim O’Connor said. “They put the bat on the ball well. I think the two teams were evenly matched, and Eldred just ended up on top.”