NH loses to Celeste

COMMERCE — The North Hopkins Lady Panthers suffered their second consecutive loss Friday following an 8-4 defeat against the Celeste Lady Blue Devils. Despite leading for much of the game, the Lady Panthers couldn’t close the game in the end, leading to a bitter loss.

The Lady Blue Devils were the first to score in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead. The Lady Panthers answered with a run by Stevana Buchanan in the bottom of the first inning, tying the score at 1-1.

The Lady Panthers would take the lead in the second inning with a trio of runs. Macey Hoelscher, Kaidence Godbolt, and Daylee Fite all scored, as the Lady Panthers took a 4-1 lead. A run by the Lady Blue Devils in the third inning trimmed the score to 4-2.

The fourth would end scoreless, as both defenses played well. After that, the Lady Blue Devils scored again in the fifth inning, trimming the deficit to 4-3.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Lady Blue Devils went on a rally in the top of the seventh inning, scoring five runs and pulling ahead 8-4. Though the Lady Panthers tried to fight back in the bottom of the seventh inning, it was too little, too late, as the Lady Blue Devils capped off an 8-4 comeback win.

As a team, the Lady Panthers batted 5 for 29 (.172) from the plate. Fite tallied two hits, while Evie Fuentes- Perry, Lucy Hernandez, and Hoelscher added one hit each.

Buchanan, Fite, Godbolt, and Hoelscher all scored one run each.

Fite took the loss in the circle. Across seven innings, she rallied five strikeouts, surrendering 11 hits, eight runs (three earned), and walks.

With the loss, the Lady Panthers dropped to 5-3 in district and 11-6-1 overall. They resumed action Tuesday, welcoming the Wolfe City Lady Wolves to Ruth Long Field for their Senior Night game.