Powerhouse Mathews disposes of Lady Panthers

Charles City's Adrianna Steele hauls in a pop fly to end the first inning.

Andre' Jones photo

When Charles City moved to the Tidewater District five years ago, they knew that some programs would excel in some sports while others needed time to adjust. Fast forward to Monday’s home softball contest against top-ranked Mathews and it was evident that the transition is still a work in progress.

The Lady Panthers couldn’t match the experience of the visiting Lady Blue Devils, falling 22-0 in Monday’s district contest.

Mathews jumped out early on the hosts, racking up 13 runs in the first inning. The visitors racked up four more runs in the second as they notched 18 hits in the first two frames. Five more runs added by the Lady Blue Devils over the next three innings provided more than enough cushion for the guests. Meanwhile, Alexis Betts’ double in the bottom of the fifth accounted for the only hit in the contest for the Lady Panthers.

Charles City head coach Lauren Wood commented that her team is struggling to find their niche early in the season.

“We had six injuries stemming from last week’s contest,” she said, pointing to a wild affair at Petersburg that resulted in a 45-42 win. “We’re lacking confidence and today we had young players on the field for their first time.

“We also have to work on hitting,” Wood continued. “It’s something that I hope we can get better at as the season progresses but we have to do it at practice and have it translate into the game.”

Charles City’s Lady Panthers drop to 1-2 on the year.