Plano East sophomore Kellan McWhinnie hit a three-run home run in the Panthers’ 6-1 win over Princeton on Tuesday, March 11. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media

By David Wolman

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After Plano East head baseball coach Tommy Sparks watched sophomore Kellan McWhinnie hit the ball around the foul pole in left field, he was confident that it was a three-run home run. But he still needed conformation. 

Sparks then swiveled his head towards the home plate umpire. A few seconds went by without confirmation, but a home run was eventually awarded. McWhinnie’s home run sparked a four-run inning, a big hit that allowed the Panthers to turn a one-run lead into an eventual 6-1 home win over Princeton on Tuesday, March 11. 

“I thought it was a home run,” Sparks said. “The rule is where it crosses the fence. Obviously, it landed on the left side, but because went over the right side, it was a home run. I automatically looked at the home plate umpire because no call had been made. Then, he signaled home run.”

McWhinnie’s home run backed up a complete-game effort on the mound from Plano East senior Jackson Papenfus. 

Papenfus surrendered one run on two hits with eight strikeouts in seven gutsy innings. He hit the first Princeton batter that he faced in the game, junior Marlon Alvarado, but he quickly settled in and went on to outduel Princeton senior right-hander James McGill. McGill limited Plano East to two runs through the first five innings before giving up the home run to McWhinnie in the sixth. 

Papenfus got plenty of defensive help from his teammates. 

In the fourth inning, Princeton hit into a groundball out. On the same play, Princeton base runner, Brandon Torrez, thought that a Plano East infielder got in his way as he ran towards second base, so he slowed down thinking that he would be awarded a free base. However, no interference was called. Plano East alertly threw to third base and junior third baseman Tristan Parker tagged out Valdez to complete a double play.

Plano East took a 1-0 lead on a double steal in the bottom of the second inning. 

Princeton catcher Alvarado attempted to throw out junior Tyler Lubow at second base. However, Lubow slid in safely. At the same time, McWhinnie ran down the third-base line and he slid into home plate before Alvarado could apply the tag.

“I thought that we were going to get hung out to dry, but (McWhinnie) made a really good play out of it,” Sparks said. 

Plano East increased its lead to 2-0 in the third inning on a Cole McClendon RBI double.

Princeton got on the board when sophomore Felix Martinez lined an RBI single up the middle in the top of the sixth inning, reducing Plano East’s advantage to 2-1.

Papenfus didn’t allow any more damage. He retired the last four Princeton batters that he faced, striking out junior Nolan Harper to end the game.

 “He’s a bulldog,” Sparks said. “We get a lot of energy from Pap. He’s 100% competitor and the guy that you want the ball with on the mound in a tough situation.”

Plano East won the rubber match Friday night by a 6-1 final to complete the two-game sweep of Princeton. 

Parker went 3 for 3 with a double and a triple. Senior Jackson Hays, a Yale commit, allowed one run (zero earned) with four strikeouts over six innings. 

Plano East improved to 2-0 in District 6-6A. That’s more wins in district play than the Panthers had all of last year when they struggled to a 1-13 record.

“It was murderer’s row last year with Hebron, Flower Mound, Marcus, all of the other schools that we had in our district,” Sparks said. “There is a lot of good baseball in this district, but I like where we’re at.”