Big inning ends Lady Panthers’ magical run

Posted 5/20/21

One big inning by the Union Grove Lady Lions undid Alba-Golden’s playoff run last Friday at Rains. The Lady Panthers took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth but gave up six runs, resulting …

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Big inning ends Lady Panthers’ magical run

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One big inning by the Union Grove Lady Lions undid Alba-Golden’s playoff run last Friday at Rains. The Lady Panthers took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth but gave up six runs, resulting in the 9-7 defeat in the regional semi-final.

As can happen, the proverbial “big inning” changes the trajectory of the game entirely and can mask over many of the positive outcomes from the Lady Panthers final game of the 2021 campaign. 

To note, eight of the Lady Panthers cracked base hits on the night. Kalli Wright led the way going 3-for-4, with Abby Hallman, Rylee Wilcoxson and Skyler West contributing multiple base hits. 

Defensively, only one miscue cost the Lady Panthers, a fielding error in the long sixth. 

Lastly, when the time ran out on their season, the Lady Panthers had the tying runs on base following a Sara Hodges double and a two-out single by Hallman. They were coming back.

In the first, the Lady Panthers came out hot. Cacie Lennon stroked a liner over second base. Singles by Wright and Reese Michaels drove in three runs in the opening half inning.

A West double scored an additional run in the second and chased Union Grove starter Katelyn Vaughn from the circle. Hard throwing Lainey Ledbetter came on in relief.

With two outs and two on, Wright sent a long ball which clanged off the City National Bank sign in left field. The stand-up double gave Alba-Golden a 6-0 lead. 

Union Grove has three very good hitters in their line-up, Sydney Chamberlain, Jocy Suarez and Mia Rust. They batted 1-2-3 in the line up. Combined, the three Lady Lions accounted for six of the ten Union Grove base hits and seven of the RBIs. 

Alba-Golden’s key to the game was to minimize the damage of these three hitters. The three combined for two runs in the third and one run in the fifth. 

The Lady Panthers put an additional run on the board in the sixth when West singled through the right side, and Kayli Covey hammered a triple to center. That smash was likely the best hit ball of the entire season. 

Going into the bottom of the sixth, Lady Panther starter Skyler West had already thrown a playoff-caliber game. It was, however, a long game, and the Union Grove line-up was a challenge. It happened quickly. Three extra base hits, three walks and an error combined into a season-ending inning. The aforementioned hitting combo of the Lady Lions accounted for four RBIs in the sixth. 

The final out came as Sara Hodges was gunned down trying to score from second after Hallman slapped a single through the infield. If the season had to end, it was fitting that it ended on an aggressive play, within reach of a win.