Centralia fell behind 3-0 to Battle early and its Class 6 opponent became even more aggressive from there.

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The Panthers lost 10-1 on Friday at home in their first game against Battle in seven years. Centralia (4-2) was outhit 12-5 and only had five hits against Brady Crites, who pitched six innings with five strikeouts and one walk. 

Battle (2-3) scored one run on a hit in a three-run second inning but brought two more home on passed balls. Head coach Mike Rodgers said Battle aggressively took the lead and didn't look back.

"We talk to our guys about them being to compete no matter who we're playing," Rodgers said. "They executed on a lot of great things. Their small ball was good. They were able to steal some bases early and put some pressure on us."

Battle had five runs across before Chase Chancellor accounted for Centralia's lone run in the fourth inning on a groundout. Tyler Putnam and Ian Williamson had three hits and four hits, respectively, for Battle and Putnam even had a home run and double in the game.

Chase Kempker and Grant Kendrick each allowed four earned runs for Centralia. Once Battle had the lead, Rodgers said his pitchers had to anticipate the Spartans being ready to hit early in the count.

"When you're in their situation and able to scratch those runs across early, now your hitters are a little more relaxed at the plate," Rodgers said. "Ours are tensed up and just trying to get one run going."

Rodgers added Battle's top three hitters in its lineup are solid, with Putnam having the big game from the No. 3 hole. Crites had a double from the No. 2 hole along with being tough on the mound.

Centralia wasn't able to hit many balls in the air and take advantage of the windy conditions during the game. Crites kept the Panthers on the ground and off the bases. Hank Lee went 2-for-3, and Kempker had a double on a low pitch he golfed to the wall to highlight the offense for the Panthers.

"That kid commanded the inside part of the zone and might have had a cutter or some offspeed pitch that kept us off-balance the whole game," Rodgers said. "He didn't beat us with velocity. We were out in front, which equals popups. We're trying to work on staying balanced and staying back and putting the barrel on the ball."

Rodgers said the middle of Centralia's lineup are "big hitters" that want to "take some big cuts." At times, he said the Panthers need to barrel the ball and play "team baseball" with their at-bats.

Centralia opens its Clarence Cannon Conference schedule at Clark County (0-4) at 5 p.m. Monday.