PC shuts out Cougars

LEOPOLD - Tony Backer and Bo Gibson combined to pitch a two-hit shutout as Perry Central beat North Harrison 1-0 in a baseball season opener Wednesday.

Backer pitched the first three innings, giving up no hits and three walks and striking out six.

He left after three innings because "we were focusing on pitch count," said Ty Guillaume, not wanting to overextend a pitcher's arm early in the season. Backer threw 27 pitches in the first inning.

Gibson pitched the final four innings. He gave up two hits and one walk and struck out four.

Perry Central also had only two hits in the pitchers' duel, with Ryan Hanan getting both of them.

Hanan drove in the game's only run with a single to left field in the first inning after Gibson reached second base on an error by the center fielder.

Hanan also hit a double in the fourth inning as he went 2 for 2.

North Harrison's pitcher struck out 10 and walked none.

"For a while he set us down pretty good," said Guillaume. "He struck out six of our first eight batters. Then we started making contact."

Still the Commodores never really threatened to score after their first-inning run.

Perry Central will visit Corydon today at 4:30 p.m.

Linescore

r h e

North Harrison 000 000 0 - 0 2 1

Perry Central 100 000 x - 1 2 1

Johason and Johnson; Backer, Gibson (4) and Hauser. W-Gibson (1-0). L-Johason (0-1).

2B-Hanan, PC.