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Senior Morgan Burnett (5) takes her stance in the batter's box during the Lady Panthers' game against Bland Friday. In her final home game, Burnett batted 2/4, scored two runs, and recorded two RBIs in the Lady Panthers' 14-0 victory. -
Daylee Fite (22) delivers a pitch during the Lady Panthers' game against Bland Friday. Fite pitched a shutout in the Lady Panthers' 14-0 win, striking out seven batters. She also cotributed offensivly, batting 2/3 and recording an RBI. Photos by DJ Spencer
Buchanan tallies three hits
BIRTHRIGHT — The North Hopkins Lady Panthers ended the regular season on a positive note Friday by shutting out the Bland Lady Tigers 14-0 at Ruth Long Field. Throughout the game, the Lady Panthers outplayed the Lady Tigers at every opportunity and never let their guard down, leading to dominant win.
After the game, the Lady Panthers celebrated the careers of their three seniors — Morgan Burnett, Jaylynn Elder, and Evie Fuentes- Perry — as this would be their final home game.
The Lady Tigers stepped up the plate first, where they faced Daylee Fite in the circle. The game started with a line out and a strikeout. After a walk, another line out ended Bland’s turn.
The Lady Panthers came to the plate next. They immediately gained two runners when Fite was hit by a pitch and Stevana Buchanan hit a single.
After Fite was called out for offensive interference, Lucy Hernandez hit a single. This was followed by Fuentes-Perry hitting an RBI single, bringing Buchanan home and giving the Lady Panthers a 1-0 lead.
On the next at-bat, Hadlee Hrabal swatted a 2-RBI single, driving Hernandez and Fuentes-Perry home and extending the Lady Panthers’ lead to 3-0. This was followed by Burnett grounding out.
Macey Hoelscher then hit an RBI double, bringing Hrabal home and making the score 4-0. Taryn Loyd then brought Hoelscher home with an RBI single, bringing the score to 5-0. After Kaidence Godbolt reached base on a dropped third strike, the first inning ended when Fite grounded out.
The second inning began with a line out. After the Lady Tigers gained a pair of runners on a hit by pitch and a single, the next batter grounded into a double play, ending their turn.
The bottom of the second inning started with the Lady Panthers loading up the bases when Buchanan hit a single, and both Hernandez and Fuentes-Perry were hit by pitches. Hrabal then hit a 2-RBI double, bringing Buchanan and Hernandez home and raising the score to 7-0.
Burnett then hit an RBI double, bringing Fuentes- Perry and Hrabal home and extending the Lady Panthers’ lead to 9-0. This was followed by Hoelscher being walked Soon after, Burnett scored on a wild pitch, raising the score to 10-0. An out followed when Loyd struck out.
The bases then loaded up when Godbolt was hit by a pitch, and Fite hit a single. Buchanan would then bring Chelsea Jolly, who was pinch running for Hoelscher, home and bringing the score to 11-0.
Hernandez then hit a fly ball for an out, but Godbolt scored after tagging up, increasing the Lady Panthers’ lead to 12-0. The inning finally ended when Fuentes-Perry struck out.
The Lady Tigers were retired in order to start the third inning, following a pair of strikeouts and line out.
The bottom of the third inning began with Hrabal hitting a pop fly ball for an out. This was followed by Burnett hitting a double.
After Hoelscher grounded out, Loyd reached base on an error, and Burnett scored, raising the score to 13-0. This was followed by Kenzie Phillips getting hit by a pitch.
Fite would then bring Loyd home with an RBI double, bringing the score to 14-0. The inning came to an end when Buchanan grounded out.
The fourth inning began with a strikeout. Following a single, another strikeout followed. After a double, a third strikeout closed out Bland’s turn.
The bottom of the fourth inning started with Hernandez hitting a single. Unfortunately, three consecutive outs followed when Fuentes-Perry grounded out, Hrabal lined out, and Burnett grounded out, ending the inning, with North Hopkins maintaining their lead.
The fifth inning kicked off with a single. Following a ground out, another single occurred. This was followed by a strikeout.
After a walk, a ground out ended the game, as the Lady Panthers polished off a 14-0 shutout victory.
As a team, the Lady Panthers batted 15 for 27 (.556) from the plate. Buchanan led the way with a 3/4 performance. Burnett, Fite, Hernandez, Hrabal, and Loyd recorded two hits each, while Fuentes-Perry and Hoelscher added one hit a piece.
Buchanan, Burnett, Fuentes-Perry, Hernandez, and Hrabal all shared the title of leading scorer with two runs each. Godbolt, Hoelscher, Jolly, and Loyd added one run a piece.
Fite pitched a shutout in the circle. Over five innings, she struck out seven batters, allowing only five hits and two walks.
With the win, the Lady Panthers ended the regular season at 7-3 in district and 13-6-1 overall. They will now focus on the upcoming playoffs.
Coverage of the Lady Panthers’ playoff run will be published in upcoming editions of the News-Telegram.