Through three-and-a-half innings, the game had seen only three baserunners, as Alba-Golden’s Adie Smith and Fruitvale’s Kyla Bain marched through the opposing lineups.  The Lady Panthers put three runs up in the fourth and went on to take a 4-2 win over the visiting Fruitvale Lady Bobcats last Tuesday.

The big inning started with Averi Stevenson beating out a ground ball to shortstop for an infield single. She then executed a delayed steal to take second base. 

Joecey Lewers stepped in and drilled a line drive to center, scoring Stevenson. Smith then reached on an error by the Fruitvale first baseman. Lewers took third on the play, and Smith stole second.  

Lilly Price lined out to the shortstop for the first out, bringing up Lilly Thorn. Thorn put the first pitch over the head of the retreating right fielder. Two runs scored and Thorn had a stand-up triple. It was a great piece of hitting. 

Alba-Golden threatened again in the fifth on the strength of a Jayla Sitar double, but they stranded the runners. 

In the sixth, the Lady Panthers added a run. Thorn drew a walk and took second on a passed ball. With two away, Sadie Wright hit a sharp ground ball through the left side and Thorn scampered home. 

Going into the seventh, Smith had given up no hits, struck out 12, and walked one. It was an overpowering pitching performance.  Alba-Golden had allowed two base runners in two infield errors. 

The lead-off Lady Bobcat in the seventh walked. With one out, first baseman Karli Norman came to the plate and sent a first-pitch Smith fastball over the centerfield fence for a two-run round-tripper. It was a line drive blast. In a flash, the score tightened.

Smith buckled down, putting the next two hitters down on swinging strikeouts to record the complete game win. 

The Lady Panthers sit atop District 18-2A with three games remaining. They split the series against the Como-Pickton Lady Eagles to start the district campaign, but have made short work of the remainder of the district. It will be a lot of fun to see just how far the arm of Adie Smith, and timely hitting, will take the Lady Panthers.

The last chance to see the Lady Panthers at home this season is Tuesday, April 14, when they host Big Sandy.