The Delavan Varsity Panthers faced a challenging week on the road, dropping contests to Eureka on Tuesday and Mt. Pulaski on Thursday. Despite flashes of strong pitching, clean defense and determined at‑bats, early deficits in both games proved difficult to overcome as the Panthers continue searching for consistency in the opening stretch of their season.

At Eureka, Delavan found itself playing from behind almost immediately. Defensive miscues in the first three innings opened the door for the Hornets to build a multi‑run lead before the Panthers could settle in. Though the Panthers allowed only a handful of hard‑hit balls, the combination of errors and well‑placed singles created a gap that Delavan spent the rest of the afternoon trying to close.

On the mound, the Panthers leaned on both their starter and bullpen to keep the game within reach. After a short outing from the starter, Corie Green delivered three and one‑third innings of relief, striking out five and limiting Eureka to just three hits. Crucially, none of the runs charged to Green were earned, underscoring the defensive challenges that shaped the early innings.

Offensively, Delavan showed life in the middle of the order. Trace Kight‑Garlisch drove in both Panther runs and finished 1‑for‑3, continuing to provide steady production. Grady Burrell and Hudson Briggs each added a hit, with Briggs swiping two bases to generate scoring opportunities. Still, Delavan struggled to string together enough traffic to mount a late comeback.

Two days later, the Panthers traveled to Mt. Pulaski, where a similar pattern emerged. The Hilltoppers struck early with a pair of first‑inning singles and added three more runs in the second. Delavan’s pitching staff battled to contain the damage—starter Hudson Briggs struck out six over four innings—but Mt. Pulaski’s patient approach at the plate, combined with aggressive baserunning, kept pressure on the Panthers throughout the game.

Delavan’s defense, however, responded with one of its cleanest outings of the season. The Panthers committed no errors, and Corbin Soldal anchored the infield with nine defensive chances. At the plate, Soldal, Briggs, and Mason Ziegler each recorded a hit, while Burrell drove in Delavan’s lone run.

Though the Panthers were unable to overcome the early scoring in either matchup, the week offered glimpses of the team’s potential—strong relief pitching, disciplined defenseand timely hitting from key contributors. As Delavan returns home, the focus shifts to tightening early‑game execution and capitalizing on offensive opportunities.

The Panthers will look to reset and rebound in their next outing, aiming to turn competitive stretches into complete games as the season continues.