When you play only once during a week and still score 19 runs something good is happening. When those 19 runs come in just three innings, it is something really good. After Tuesday’s scheduled home game against Gaston was postponed, the Spring Garden softball team traveled to Cedar Bluff Thursday and shut out the Tigers 19-0 in three innings.
The Panthers scored 12 times in the first inning to remove whatever suspense there might have been entering the game.
Batting leadoff, senior Bridget Parris had three hits – including a pair of triples, scored three times and drove in three runs.
Both Lindsey Lambert and Bree Blevins had a double and two singles, drove in three runs and scored twice.
Tara Mullinax also had three hits, including a triple. Mullinax scored three times and had an RBI.
Harley Bonds doubled twice, scored once and had an RBI. Jordan Sides, Breanna Messer and Heather Sm
art all had two hits and two RBI. Sides scored three times, Smart twice and Messer once. Carly Mitchell doubled home two runs and scored once herself.
Sides was the winning pitcher. She faced the minimum nine batters over the game’s three innings. One Tiger reached first on an infield single then was thrown out on a steal attempt. Sides struck out three and did not walk a batter.
Spring Garden coach Ann Welsh said her team returned a number of experienced players who have improved as the season has progressed. That improvement, and the addition of a quality second pitcher, has the Panthers thinking state tournament.
“They’re kind of sensing that this is the year we can make it,” said Welsh.
The Panthers face a busy week. They were to open yesterday with a game against rival Cherokee County at Centre.
The Gaston game has been re-set for Wednesday and will start at 3:15 p.m., earlier than the usual starting time for a home game.
Thursday Spring Garden hosts Collinsville in a game that could decide the 1A, Area 13 regular season championship.
On Monday of next week Spring Garden will play in a round-robin tournament at Cedar Bluff with Ranburne and Cedar Bluff.
