The Jersey Panthers saw their Mississippi Valley Conference campaign end in a 16‑2 defeat at the hands of the Waterloo Bulldogs, a result that left the team searching for answers as the regular season winds down.
Coach Darren Perdun, who has guided the club through a challenging stretch, urged his players to put the loss behind them and turn their attention to the games that remain.
Waterloo struck first, plating two runs in the second inning and adding six more in the third, while starter Hayden LaPlant struggled, surrendering eight earned runs and issuing four walks.
The Bulldogs extended their lead in the sixth with an eight‑run burst, highlighted by a two‑run homer from Austin Martin, but Jersey managed to break the shutout with a pair of runs in the same frame.
Despite the setback, the Panthers remain focused on a milestone they have not reached since 2016: a twentieth victory. With six contests left on the schedule, the coaching staff believes the experience could prove pivotal.
Key contributors on the roster include Caleb Papenberg, Chase Zimmerman, Brady Schmidt, Trey Breintenstein, Waylon Glaenzer, John Kodros, Brady Maxeiner, Evan Cheek, Alex Harper, and Carter Jones, who will look to rally the team in the final stretch.
Looking Ahead
Coach Perdun emphasized that the focus now is on execution, discipline, and tightening up pitching and fielding before postseason hopes slip away.