This has been an up-and-down season for the Paradise High School baseball team. The team has played to coach Scott Broussard's expectations sometimes, while other times the locals play like the young team it is.
Despite the growing pains and patience Broussard has developed, the Panthers still control their playoff destiny. They kept it that way Tuesday night with an impressive 4-1 win over Godley.
Pitcher Nick Pike had a lot to do with the outcome. The right-handed standout held the Wildcats to three hits and just one earned run.
The senior hurler didn't do it all alone. His teammates delivered one of their best defensive games of the year and played error-free baseball.
The combination was successful as Paradise moved into a third-place tie with Cisco at 7-6 in District 10-2A and 13-10 for the year. The loss took a big hit on GHS's playoff run as it slipped to 6-7 and 8-9 with one game left to play.
The Panthers, who were to play their district finale against Eastland Friday night, never trailed against the Wildcats. They jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning but watched as Godley evened things up in the second frame.
Paradise won the game in the fourth inning by sending three runs across home plate to make it 4-1.
Pike, who moved his record to 5-1 for the year, pitched five scoreless innings to close the game.
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