Lady Panthers outlast Surry, remain in first

By Andre Jones | May 9, 2013 1:05 pm

Charles City’s Mary Adkins is able to slide safely under the tag of Surry catcher Lexus Holloway to start a fifth inning rally.

Andre' Jones photo

Rallying from a nine-run deficit, Charles City’s Lady Panthers used productive third and fifth innings to pull away from Tri-Rivers foe Surry County in a 20-17 shootout during last Friday’s softball contest to remain undefeated in district play.

Trailing 10-1 heading into the bottom of the second, Mary Adkins’ single allowed Meryah Bates to score. Adkins, along with two other Lady Panthers, crossed the plate to cut the deficit in half (10-5).

Lady Panther head coach Lauren Wood elected to switch pitchers at the top of the third. Hailey Holmes relieved Sydney Richard with results paying off immediately. Holmes gave up only one run in the frame, while her Panther teammates reeled off six runs to tie the game at 11 apiece.

The hosts earned their first lead in the bottom of the fourth. Adrienne Miles’ double brought home Caylin Stewart. Miles crossed the plate after Richard’s center field single to up the score to 13-11.

Surry rebounded in the next frame. After Alexis Cornick reached base by single and Lexus Holloway walked, Katelyn Spiers blasted a line drive to knot the game at 13 apiece.

The Lady Panthers responded in the bottom of the fifth, as Bates scored on an errant throw. With the bases loaded, Miles tripled and scored on a wild throw to increase the margin to six for the hosts (19-13).

Sierra Adkins’ single and subsequent steals gave the hosts their 20th run. Surry scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning, but Holmes’ pitching backed by a defensive stand ended the game in a rare seven-inning affair for the Lady Panthers.

After the game, Wood spoke about the team being anxious to play again.

“We haven’t taken the field in a long time because of delays,” she said. “We had a real rocky start but we got it together and made it work.”

Charles City maintains a share of the district lead (3-0 Tri-Rivers, 3-4 overall) as winners of three straight games.