A pitcher’s duel broke out in Packwood on Saturday in a first round class 1A district baseball game with Pekin edging Lone Tree for the third time this summer by a 3-2 score. 

The Panthers got out to a fast start by scoring twice in the opening inning and although the Lions tied it at 2-2 in the fifth, one more tally in the bottom half was all the hosts needed in the victory. There was only nine hits in the ballgame with the Lions having four of them. Tyler Bell went 2-for-4 with a double. Adam Knock tossed six innings on the hill giving up three earned runs on four hits, two walks, and striking out six. 

Pekin improves to 10-12 and advances to Tuesday’s quarterfinal at New London (25-1). Lone Tree caps off the season 7-14 and say goodbye to eight seniors including Bell, Knock, Cade Shield, Hunter Hain, Anthony Hurlbut, Gavin Pourroy, Will Kleckner, and Cade Patterson.