Photos Courtesy of Carter Pirtle and Pampa High School Yearbook
The Pampa Lady Harvester softball team (2-12, 0-2) opened district play on the road against Canyon on Tuesday, March 3rd. They also hosted West Plains for their district home opener on Friday, March 6th.
Sophomore Myla Zarate got things started with a single to left on a line drive in the top of the first. Junior Michelle Gallegos followed with a single on a hard groundball to right. Sophomore Brooklyn Warren also reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases. However, the Lady Harvesters were not able to put a run across despite threatening.
Senior pitcher Hallie Reynolds shut down the Eagles in order in the first inning.
The game turned into a pitching duel with both pitchers shutting out both teams in the second and third innings.
In the fourth, Freshman Emme Hill hit a single on a line drive to right but that was all Pampa could do in the inning. Canyon broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth scoring two runs to take a 2-0 lead.
There was no other action by either team until the seventh. Pampa needed two runs to stay in the game. Hill started the inning off with a double on a grounder to center. Then, Junior Payton Gowin hit a triple to score Hill and make it 2-1. Freshman Addi Bagwell grounded out but tied the game up when Gowin came home to score.
Reynolds shut down the Eagles again in the bottom of the seventh in order to force extra innings.
In the eighth, Gallegos singled but Pampa couldn’t score from it. Reynolds forced another frame with a good eighth inning.
Pampa couldn’t score after Bagwell reached on a walk in the top of the ninth. The Eagles ended up scoring the game winning run with two outs in the ninth. Final score/9: Canyon 3, Pampa 2.
Stats v. Canyon:
Reynolds pitched 8.2 innings, allowing nine hits, three runs but only two earned runs, walking two and striking out one.
Zarate had one hit. Gallegos was 2-3 with a walk. Hill was 2-3 with a double and a run scored. Gowin had a triple, an RBI, and a run scored. Bagwell had a walk, an RBI, and two stolen bases.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Denise Browning was pleased with the fight of the Lady Harvesters. Here is what she had to say about the game:
“I am so incredibly proud of my team for the fight, and effort we put into our game last Tuesday in Canyon. We went three innings scoreless with outstanding work by our pitcher Hallie Reynolds, and all of our outfield (Ella Hudson, Payton Gowin, and Kinley Duke). We allowed two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but we didn't stop the fight. We ended up scoring two runs in the top of the seventh to tie up the game with a great base hit by Emme Hill to drive in one run, and Addi Bagwell with the RBI to drive in the tying run. We continued to battle until the 9th inning, but we came up short by one run. I could not be prouder of these young ladies to walk onto Canyon's field in a tough environment, and battle like we did,” Browning said.
Pampa faced arguably the best pitcher in the district against West Plains.Reynolds struck out a batter in the top of the first and did not allow a run. Pampa went down in their half of the first, all by the strikeout.
Jaylen Kaps, the West Plains pitcher, homered in the second to draw first blood. After a single later in the inning, West Plains led 2-0.
Hill hit a solo homer to left to make it 2-1 West Plains.
Reynolds sat down the Lady Wolves in order in the third. Senior Ella Hudson singled on a bunt in the third but Pampa was unable to score from it.
Reynolds recorded another strikeout in the fourth and kept the Wolves from scoring. Pampa went down in order again in the fourth inning.
West Plains broke up the scoreless innings by both teams by adding two more in the fifth to make the score 4-1. Pampa did not answer in the fifth.
Pampa shut down West Plains in the sixth but also went down in 1-2-3 order in their half of the frame.
In the seventh, Kaps smacked another two-run homer to left to make the lead 6-1 West Plains. Pampa could not get a threat going in the seventh. Final score: West Plains 6, Pampa 1.
Stats v. West Plains:
Reynolds pitched all seven innings and had four strikeouts. Hill was 1-2 with an RBI, a run scored, and a solo homer. Hudson was 1-3 with a single.
Again, the final score was not what Pampa hoped to see but the coach was pleased with the performance as a whole.
“We had our district home opener this past Friday against West Plains. We faced Kaps, a senior pitcher who is a great competitor, and she has a mean rise ball. Emme Hill hit a bomb of a home run in the bottom of the second to keep us within one run. We had some great plays in the field, and we are making strides to get better in every game. We ended up holding strong, only allowing two more runs until Kaps hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to add to their score. Ella Hudson really impressed from the field; making key stops and throwing out runners,” Browning said.
Coach Browning wanted to spotlight Senior Centerfielder Ella Hudson.
“Ella is one of my three seniors this year, and she is a true leader. Ella has been a beast in center field for us this year. If a ball is hit her way you know she is either going to make the catch or make the play. Not only is she a great competitor on the field, but she is a great teammate and leader,” Browning said.
Pampa will travel on the road both games this week. First, they play at Borger on Tuesday, March 10th at 4:30 P.M. Then, on Friday, March 13th, they will travel to Hereford for a 4:30 P.M. first pitch against the Lady Whitefaces.
“We have two very important district matchups this week in Borger, and then in Hereford. I am excited to go to Borger, and watch my team compete. We know we have to get the bats rolling after struggling at the plate last Friday, but our line-up is very strong,” Browning said. “We were able to see both Borger and Hereford in pre-season tournaments, so we know what it will take to compete to win. I expect both games this week to be fun to watch.”
