The Kahoks started their regular season finale with a bang, but fell 10-4 to Jersey Community High School.

Photo by Roger Starkey

In the top of the first inning, Zach Mathes hit a two-run home run, scoring Grant Bauer, who had singled. Jerseyville scored a run in the bottom of the inning to make the score 2-1 CHS (19-15) after one inning.

The Panthers hung three on the Kahoks in the third to take a 4-2 lead. The Kahoks answered right back with two in the top of the fourth to tie the game. Cole Young’s two-RBI single scored Tanner Houck and Aaron Peskar to draw Collinsville even.

The score remained tied at four until the bottom of the sixth, when the Panthers scored six to take a 10-4 lead. Grant Bauer singled in the top of the seventh, his second hit of the afternoon, but he was stranded at first to end the game.

Collinsville Head Coach Pete Trapp said Jerseyville hit the ball well in the sixth, but some balls just found a hole.

“Sometimes they find a glove and sometimes they don’t,” Trapp said.

Bauer and Mitch Reising had two hits each to lead Collinsville. Matt Cook started on the mound before giving way to Parker Marchbanks. Mathes came in the game with runners at first and third in the sixth and finished the game.

Cook and Marchbanks are both sophomores. Getting them younger guys game experience was part of the plan, Trapp said.

“With four pretty good seniors, we didn’t get a lot of chance for sophomores to take the mound, to think about the future,” Trapp said.

The Kahoks next play at Regional host Belleville East at 4 p.m. Thursday.