Two weeks ago, the Fort Stockton baseball team was tied for fifth place in District 2-4A with a 2-5 district record and were needing to win at least two of their final three games to qualify for the postseason.

The Panthers have since won two games in a row and are now in control of their own postseason destiny following their victory against Monahans on April 22 at home. Fort Stockton scored a district-high 14 runs and needed only seven hits to do so. The Loboes contributed to the Panthers success with four defensive errors and 11 walks given up by Monahans pitchers.

The Panthers trailed 4-3 heading into the fifth inning before Fort Stockton plated 11 runs in final two frames to win the contest 14-4.

Isaiah Velasquez hit a grand slam in the fifth inning, highlighting the Panthers late rally. Ethan Acosta and Adrian Hernandez each recorded singles before Velasquez hit his first home run of the season.

Velasquez and Daren Ureste tallied a hit apiece in the sixth inning for the Panthers, which was accompanied by four walks and a Monahans error. Ureste, Jaydrien Ramirez, Ethan Acosta, and Julian Leyva were walked in the inning.

Acosta and Velasquez finished the game with a team-high two hits each. Marco Garcia also had a hit during Friday’s contest.

Fort Stockton (14-9) heads into their regular season final on April 26 at home against Seminole (16-9-1) in fourth place in District 2-4A with a district record of 4-5. A win guarantees them a playoff spot. If they lose, they would be guaranteed a playoff spot if Pecos and Monahans also lose.

See story online on April 28 and in next week’s paper.