Plano East’s Ricky Clemens hit the go-ahead, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning in last Thursday’s 6-4 home win over McKinney. Photo by Elijah Kloepping / C&S Media
By Seth Dowdle
McKINNEY — In a game that tested the resilience of everyone involved, the Plano East Panthers secured a crucial 4-1 comeback victory over the McKinney Lions on Wednesday, April 16.
Both teams struggled offensively for most of the contest, with McKinney entering the top of the seventh inning holding a narrow one-run lead. But that’s when the Panthers’ bats came alive, as they scored four runs in the frame to take the lead and complete the comeback.
The first six innings were a testament to the pitchers’ dominance. McKinney took an early lead in the bottom of the first, when Eldrick Ramos doubled to drive in Brandt Hodges. It was a rare misstep for Panthers starter and Yale commit Jackson Hays, who was otherwise flawless the rest of the game. Through five innings, he allowed just three hits, struck out eight and walked two.
The turning point came in the top of the seventh. Trailing 1-0, Ricky Clemens led off the inning with a five-pitch walk. Kellan McWhinnie followed with a bunt single to move the runner into scoring position. With two on and no outs, Tyler Lubow laid down a bunt single of his own, driving in the tying run.
Plano East’s offense didn’t stop there. An error allowed Matthew Hyman to reach and load the bases, setting up Landon Weeks to draw a bases-loaded walk that gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead. After Andrew Valdez struck out looking for the second out of the inning, Cole McClendon delivered a two-run single to right, padding the lead.
With a 4-1 advantage, Plano East reliever Ben Stultz took the mound in the bottom of the seventh. It wasn’t without drama. He walked the leadoff hitter and, after striking out the next batter, issued a four-pitch walk to Jake Todd to bring the tying run to the plate. But Stultz settled in, inducing a popout and striking out Beck Posey swinging to end the game.
The win, followed by another victory over McKinney the next day at home, by a 6-4 final, improved Plano East’s overall record to 14-13-1 and its district mark to 7-7.
Plano East rallied from a 4-1 deficit to earn the win.
McClendon ignited a four-run bottom of the sixth for Plano East with a bases-loaded walk. Matthew Hyman leveled the score at 4-4 with an RBI sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Clemens recorded the go-ahead, two-run RBI single for a 6-4 Panthers advantage.
The Panthers will look to close out the 2025 regular season on a high note. Plano East has two games against Allen —Tuesday, April 22, and Friday, April 25.
For more on this story see the April 24, 2025 print, or digital edition of the Murphy Monitor. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
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