Paola and DeSoto both entered the night 10-0 on the season looking to remain perfect.
Despite falling down 2 runs before a chance to bat the Panthers managed to rally back and hand the Wildcats its only loss on the season, in the first game of the double header.
The second game didn’t fare as well, for the Panthers lackluster performances from the top of Paola’s line-up (a combined 3-12) paired with untimely errors, gave the Panthers its first loss of the year as well.
Head coach Troy Collier would have liked to have gone perfect on the season but that ended against the Wildcats.
“Undefeated would have been great, but realistically our goal is to win our regional and go to State and see where things go from there,” Collier said.
In the first game, junior Molli Morgan faced all nine batters in a two run, one-hit inning for the Wildcats. The inning, which saw three walks and a wild pitch, ended with three runners left on base for DeSoto, and Paola in an early hole.
Paola managed to get things started in the third with back-to-back doubles by sophomores Kaelah McMullin and Allie Ozier. After a walk was issued to senior Cheyenne Rankin, and the next two batters failed to get on base, senior Malorie Nelson hit a single which drove in two runs, giving the Panther’s a 3-0 lead.
Collier said the hitting rotation was the key for the victory.
“We are stacked one through nine, which helps have a stepping stone for that next inning,” Collier said.
The second game however did not end in Paola’s favor.
The game remained scoreless into the top of the fourth when DeSoto scored after a Paola error started the inning.
Paola bounced back, adding a run of its own off an RBI single by junior Lucy Staats to even the score at one.
DeSoto struck back in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs. The second run came off a dropped strike three and a wild throw to first with two outs that kept the inning alive.
Paola never managed to string anything together and lost the first game of the season 3-1.
Despite the loss Collier said there will still be softball to play.
“The loss isn’t bad,” said Collier “We learned things that we need to work on tomorrow to keep getting better.”
Game 1
Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
Desoto 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Paola 0 0 3 0 2 0 x 5
x R H E
Desoto 2 4 3
Paola 5 6 0
Batting
1. 1B Rankin- 1-3, BB, 2R
2. SS Johnson- 0-3
3. 2B Harris- 0-3, R
4. RF Nelson- 1-3, 3RBI
5. P Morgan- 0-3, RBI
6. 3B Staats- 0-3
7. CF Taylor- 1-3
8. DH McMullin- 1-3, 2B, R
9. LF Ozier- 2-3, 2B, RBI, R
DNH-C Hill
Pitching
1. Morgan- 7IP, 2R, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 3K
Game 2
Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
Desoto 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3
Paola 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
x R H E
Desoto 3 4 0
Paola 1 6 2
Batting
1. 1B Rankin- 0-3, BB
2. SS Johnson- 0-4
3. 2B Harris- 1-2, BB, R
4. RF Nelson- 2-3
5. P Morgan- 1-2
6. 3B Staats- 1-3, RBI
7. CF Taylor- 1-3
8. DH McMullin- 1-3, 2B
9. LF Ozier- 1-3
DNH C Hill
Pitching
1. McMullin- 7IP, 3R, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 6K
*All stats are unofficial