Panagos hits first HR of season as Scott City earns 26th win

Scott City senior Mark Panagos rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against Notre Dame on Thursday, May 2, in Scott City, Mo.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

“I’m (homering) in the rain.”

As the designated hitter on top of the Scott City lineup, Mark Panagos has spent his senior season preparing for these moments.

As the rain storm soaked Scott City, Panagos broke the 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a two-run home run to highlight a three-run rally.

The game was called due to weather after Lane Holder scored on a passed ball, giving the Rams a 5-2 victory on Thursday, May 2.

It was Panagos’ only hit of the game but he made it count. It was also his first home run of the season.

"I was happy for him," Rams head coach Skylar Cobb said. "It's something that he actually talks about a lot, halfway jokingly, but I know he was really fired up to be able to get his first home run."

Cobb said the senior was due for one of his 34 hits to go over the fence.

“Mark’s been really good lately,” Cobb said. “He's a guy who in practice hit balls over the scoreboard, but he's more of a line drive guy in the game. We joke about it that he'll end up getting under one at some point and get one out of here."

Panagos is second among the Rams in hits, stolen base (15), and batting average (.374), as well as third in OPS (.994). The most impressive stat this season is Panagos has more multi-hit games than hitless games this season, by a 10-7 margin.

Panagos has made an impact as the Rams leadoff hitter this season. The senior has had three three-hit games including a two-RBI performance in a 5-0 win over East Prarie on March 28. His most recent three-hit game included a double and two runs scored in Scott City's 16-1 win over Charleston on Tuesday, April 30.

Panagos' best game of the season was likely his first when he went 2-for-3 with two runs driven in and three runs scored in the Rams' 15-0 win over Clearwater on March 15.

In the past, he was all over the infield, but with the rise of freshmen Lane Miller and Kaden Lowery, he assumed the role of designated hitter, only to see the field when pitching chances necessitated it. 

"We got a couple of freshmen this year that we didn't have last year that are good infielders," Cobb said. "It allows him to really focus on his craft as a hitter." 

The Rams return to Capaha Field on Saturday, May 4, to take on Holcomb.