A three-run uprising in the sixth inning with the bases still loaded gave the Russellville Lady Panthers hope and the Logan County Lady Cougars cause for concern, but the Lady Cougars held on for a 6-4 win in the opening game of the 13th District Softball Tournament at Franklin Monday,
In that inning, the Lady Panthers’ Jaylah Kees led off with a double before Chloe Whitescarver reached on a two-base error, bringing Kees home. Whitescarver moved up on a passed ball, and scored on Taryn Gray’s single. Addie Mosier then doubled in Gray. Tonisha Hampton and LeeLee McCarley then worked walks to load the bases.
Coach Ryan Davenport’s team seemed to be in great shape with the seven, eight and nine batters on base and Amiyah Collier at the plate. The dynamic middle schooler had already gotten two hits in the game. But Lady Cougar Abby Hinton, who had relieved starter Sydney Lee during the uprising, got Collier to hit a come-backer to her to end the threat.
The Lady Cougars had steadily built a lead throughout the game. Leadoff batter KJ Page got it started with a double in the first and scored on Lee’s single. Kennedy Nichols’ hit moved her to third, and she scored on Abby Canler’s hit, Logan’s fourth of the inning.
Two more runs scored in the second inning. Hinton and Prsesley Harris each walked and came home on Page’s triple.
Nichols singled to start the third, but shortstop Collier pulled off a double play. Paige Vanzant singled but was stranded.
Page reached base for the third straight at-bat, this time on a two-out error, and was singled in by Brea Croslin. Lee singled and Nichols walked to load the bases, but they were stranded.
Hinton singled in the fifth, but that didn’t result in a run. An insurance run came home without a hit in the sixth when Croslin, Lee and Nichols all walked to load the bases. Croslin scored on a wild pitch.
Page, Lee and Nichols each had two hits while Croslin, Canler, Vanzant and Hinton added one each. Deuces were wild for Page with two each of hits, runs and RBIs.
For Russellville Mosier went three for three with a run scored and an RBI. Collier had two hits while Kees and Gray added one each.
Lee was the winning pitcher, being charged with only one earned run. Gray pitched the first inning for RHS with Mosier working the final five innings.
Also playing for the Lady Panthers in this final game of the season were Susanna Higgins, Brooklyn Ray and Brinley Mason