Lady Panthers survive back-and-forth battle to conquer King & Queen

Charles City's Alanye' Greene (16) prepares to step on home base for a score in the first inning.

Robb Johnson photo

Even though Charles City’s Lady Panthers softball team record showed a win, it was by forfeit. That number increased with on-field work Tuesday afternoon.

After a back-and-forth battle, Charles City would score eight runs in the final three innings to defeat the visiting King & Queen Lady Tigers 14-10 in Tidewater District action.

After the visitors put a run on the board in the top of the opening inning, Charles City would utilize errant pitching from King & Queen to their advantage. After Olivia Adkins walked, Alanye’ Greene’s base hit advanced Adkins to third. Adkins touched home plate to give the Lady Panthers their first run, with Greene doing the same for the lead. Charles City tacked on an additional run to take a 3-1 lead. The host would send four more runs crossed home plate for the Lady Panthers in the bottom of the second as they held what was considered a comfortable 7-1 lead as they transitioned into the top of the third inning.

But the top of the third saw the hosts commit numerous errors on routine plays. King & Queen’s Janiya Brown home run helped the Lady Tigers cut Charles City’s lead down to three (7-4). In the top of the fourth, the visitors shaved off two more runs to bring the gap to just one (7-6).

Charles City’s Janiya Washington homered in the bottom of the fourth to extend the hosts’ lead to 8-6, but again, routine errors on throws and fly balls allowed the Lady Tigers to trot four more runs across home plate in the top of the fifth to bestow the visitors a 10-8 lead.

But Charles City wasn’t the only team committing errors, as King & Queen couldn’t slow down Lady Panther runners once they reached base. Adkins crossed home plate again in what would be a four-run inning for the hosts to regain the lead at 12-10. After Charles City scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, Washington, now on the mound, would strike out the final three King & Queen batters to close out the contest.

After the contest, Charles City Lady Panther Head Coach Karen Burcham spoke about the team’s efforts and hard work.

“These girls have been working super hard and they have learned to play harder as a team,” said the victorious head coach. “By doing that, they have improved.

“Janiya (Washington) puts in as much effort into pitching as she does hitting, and even though she was out with an injury, she came back and practiced yesterday,” Burcham concluded, praising the pitcher.

Charles City’s record improves to 2-4.