South Charlotte Panthers

Michael Caldwell 2007 Charlotte Christian has committed to pitch for High Point University in 2008. Following his senior year at Charlotte Christian, Michael will join the Panthers who play in the Big South conference. Congratulations to Michael and his parents Bill and Ross.

The SC Panthers completed the summer season with a record of 34-13(.723). The team achieved championships in the Impact/Wake Forest Tournament and the Perfect Game BCS Southeast Regionals; Runner up finish in the Impact World Series; and Top eight finishes in the Perfect Game WWBA 17U and Perfect Game BCS 17U. The Panthers played 38 different teams from Florida, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Maryland, Illinois, California, South Carolina and North Carolina. At last count the the opposing teams had over 200 players signed or committed to college programs with many more to follow. The team played in over 30 parks including Auburn University, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Roger Dean Complex, Southern Poly, East Cobb Complex, Louisburg College, Wake Forest, Winthrop and Wofford. The Panthers hit .336 as a team scoring 283 runs with 400 hits including 16 HR. Michael Melton(.463)31-67 and Whit Merrifield(.447)63-141 led the Panthers hitters in batting average. Other leading hitters were RBI-Chris Kinard(31); HR-Byron McKoy(3); Doubles-Erik Sommerville(8) and Preston Shuey(8); Base on Balls-Justin Schumer(24) and Stolen Bases-Whit Merrifield(38). Defensively the Panthers turned 45 double plays led by Justin Schumer(16) and Whit Merrifield(15). The Panther outfielders had 14 OF assists led by Erik Sommerville(5). Catchers Kolby Epley and Chris Kinard threw out 16 of 40 base runners and had 5 passed balls between them in 302 innings. Versatile Tyler Vogler played 7 positions. Skip Hutchins(.950) led the MIF and Graham Fronk(.977) the OF in fielding average while Michael Melton was perfect at 1B with a 1.000 average on 118 chances. The pitchers were led by Corey Norman(6-1) and Kyle Greenwalt(5-1)in wins. Justin Schumer led the team in strikeouts with 41 in 34 innings, followed closely by Corey Norman(40). Michael Caldwell(1.19); Erik Sommerville(1.62) and Skip Hutchins(1.66) led the team in earned run average. Kyle Greenwalt had 4 complete game outings and 2 shut outs including possibly the highlight game of the 18U WWBA Championships with a shutout win against the Central Florida Renegades on Field 1 at East Cobb in front of 50 plus scouts. The Panthers bid farewell to the departing 06 players who will each begin college in the fall of 2006 and continue their baseball careers. These young men have been instrumental in helping the Panther program reach the success we have achieved on and off the field. They will be missed but not forgotten. Erik Sommerville(7 Years) - Francis Marion Justin Schumer(5 Years) - University of North Carolina Asheville Zach Parmer(4 Years) - Wofford College Josh Salay(6 Years) - Winthrop University Nick Fogleman(1 Year) - Pfieffer College

The Panthers finished Runner Up to the host Dirtbags in the Impact World Series at UNC, NC State and Louisburg College. In pool play the Panthers finished 3-1 with wins over the Palmetto Sand Gnats 18U, Charlotte Megastars and the Dirtbag 17U. The team took its lone loss of pool play in a 4-3 to the Prep Stars 17Us. In the quarter finals the Panthers beat the On Deck O's/08s 10-2. The team met up with the Carolina Hurricanes in the semi finals and pulled out a hard fought 8-5 victory to advance to the finals. In the finals versus the Dirtbags the Panthers fell behind 3-0 in the first but held the Dirtbags in check the rest of the way yet came up just short in coming back and took a 3-2 loss for the runner up finish. The "Original Panther", Erik Sommerville capped an outstanding career with a memorable weekend of play. Erik was 13 for 22(.591) at bat with 3 doubles, a triple and 6 RBI. On the mound he closed out two games giving up no runs and pitched a complete game in the championship contest giving him 11 innings pitched with 3 runs scored and 5 strikeouts. Erik begins school at Francis Marion University this fall where he will begin play for the Patriots. Justin Schumer also finished his Panther career in the Impact event and went out with a bang going 10-21(.476) at the plate with 3 doubles and six RBIs. The JMan was involved in 4 double plays in the field and pitched 4 innings, giving up 2 runs and striking out 4. Justin heads up to the University of North Carolina Asheville where he begins play for the Bulldogs this fall. Other leading hitters for the tournament were Byron McKoy 11-23(.478) with 2 doubles; 2 homeruns and 9 runs scored; Whit Merrifield 10-23(.435) with a double a triple a homerun and 11 runs scored; Kolby Epley 7-15(.467) with 2 doubles; Michael Melton 6-16(.375) with 2 HR; Corey Norman 5-10(.500) with 2 doubles; Chris Kinard 5-11(.455)with a double; Skip Hutchins 3-10(.300) with 3 sacrifices; Preston Shuey with 4 hits including a double plus 5 RBIs and Dean Boyle with 2 run scoring sacrifice fly balls . On the mound Mike Caldwell picked up a win with 3.1 innings of relief giving up no runs on 3 hits and striking out 1. Whit Merrifield earned his first victory with 4.1 innings of work giving up 2 runs on 5 hits. Tyler Vogler also picked up his first Panther victory with 4 innings of work spreading out 6 hits and giving up 2 runs. Corey Norman in relief picked up a big semi final win with 4 innings of work, bending a little but not breaking with 2 strike outs. Kyle Greenwalt shut down the strong Dirtbags with 3 innings of work, striking out 5 in the process to pick up his fifth win on the season. Skip Hutchins held the Prep Stars in check with 2.2 innings of work giving up no runs and striking out 4. Defensively the Panthers were solid throughout the event. In game one Graham Fronk owned the UNC outfield where he chased down 4 hard hit balls to keep the Sand Gnats in check. Nick Verhein made two web gem plays; one at 3B and one at 2B to keep scoring threats in check. The team turned 8 double plays on the weekend and catchers Kolby Epley and Chris Kinard threw out 4 of 6 trying to steal.