Paradise pitcher Braden Wilson suffered the loss in his final outing with the Panthers, allowing four runs on four hits in a 4-3 loss to New Diana in Game 2 of the 3A Division II Region II semifinals May 17 at Crandall High School. Wilson finished with four walks and three strikeouts. MIKE HALL | FOR THE MESSENGER
After claiming the program’s first area title in 19 seasons, the Paradise Panthers postseason hopes ended in the third round last week.
Paradise was swept out of the 3A Division II bracket by No. 20 New Diana at Crandall High School May 15 and 17, 7-0 and 4-3.
“It was a tough series for us,” Paradise coach Mike Fehler said. “Anytime you get to this part of the playoffs, you know it’s going to be a battle. New Diana was a really good defensive team, scrappy at the plate and their pitchers threw a lot of strikes.”
Coaching in his second stint at Paradise, Fehler led the Panthers to a 15-10-2 record in his third campaign back in the dugout.
“I was really happy with how the year turned out for us,” Fehler said. “We started out kind of slow, and we were kind of behind the 8-ball early because of how long the basketball season went. So getting this far and being able to come together as a group was very satisfying and rewarding.”
New Diana held a 3-run lead early in the series finale before the Panthers tied the game in the third inning.
Carter Mara got Paradise on the scoreboard with a bunt single that drew an error from Eagle second baseman Mason Sherman, allowing Cooper Woodard to score from third.
Following a walk issued to Madden Taylor, Cash Watson made it a 1-run game after stealing home.
With one out, Cash Perkins grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring Taylor home from third.
New Diana scored the winning run of the game in the top of the fifth with two outs, as Jon Wick crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
The Panthers finished with six singles in the contest, hit by Watson, Mara, Mattern, Woodard, Ayden Olalde and Andrew Valencia.
Braden Wilson suffered the loss in his final outing. He gave up four runs on four hits, with four walks and three strikeouts in a 5-inning start.
Relief pitcher Colton Walker made a 2-inning appearance, allowing one hit with a pair of strikeouts and one walk.
Paradise was outhit by New Diana 13-3 in the series opener. Taylor finished with two singles, while Valencia’s double served as the Panthers’ lone extra-base hit of the series.
Kolten Neil surrendered four runs on seven hits in a 3-inning start, and suffered the loss. He walked three and struck out two.
Walker and Kaden Hammons combined for three innings of relief. The duo allowed three runs on six hits, while Walker tallied four strikeouts and one walk.
Paradise has a total of six seniors departing the program — Mattern, Neil, Perkins, Valencia, Wilson and Woodard.
“Our seniors were a huge part of our success,” Fehler said. “All of them were starters. The way they worked and led the ball club, as well as set an example for the younger guys, was big. We’re definitely going to miss them and what they all brought to our program.”
Fehler believes the program can build off of its historic season and come back stronger in the 2026 campaign.
“The standard and expectations were set this year, and so the work [for next season] has to start today,” he said. “We have a good group of young guys that played a lot this year, and we have a good JV team that I think is going to make some contributions next season.”
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