The lone downfall for the Panners early in the season has been a tendency to get caught on the base paths, shutting down potential rallies. They run a little better, throw better. And they seem to get along really well together. The Goldpanners placed fifth in the six-team ABL two years ago, but were only four games out of first. If we play well enough to win one or two more of those one-run games we lost last year, that could be the difference.
Every game is important.
Greg Sain had a triple and a sacrifice fly for two of the few highlights in the Panners' loss on Thursday. Sain has been the team leader at the plate through the first eight games of the season with three home runs, four doubles and a triple. He is batting just a shade below .400 and has a slugging percentage around .850. Like the Panners, the Hawaii Island Movers have yet to play an ABL game.