By Myra Bean
The South Panola Lady Tigers shut out Columbus 11-0 in district action Monday afternoon to go 12-2 overall, 1-1 district on the year. This was their ninth shutout of the season.

Whitney Kiihnl started on the mound and pitched two innings. Kenzie Reed got the win as she pitched in relief the last three innings. Kiihnl struck out six while Reed fanned five batters, and allowed two hits.

Both teams went scoreless in the first inning but the Lady Tigers turned up the heat in the second, scoring nine runs and going through the lineup one and a half times.

Kasey Kelsay hit a triple to left field to start off the avalanche of hits and scoring. She scored on a passed ball for the first run.

Jennifer Newcomb walked to base, but was out going to second on a fielder’s choice by Ellen Farrish. Haley Hood walked and she and Farrish came home on a two-RBI (run batted in) double by Kiihnl.

Kiihnl got to third and home on passed balls.

Hillari Plummer walked and got to second safely beating the throw on a Haylei Plummer fielder’s choice. Both scored on passed balls.

Casi Brooks, Stormy Robison and Kelsay loaded the bases. Brooks scored on a Newcomb RBI single. Farrish got on base on a fielder’s choice as Newcomb was out, driving home both Robison and Kelsay.

The Lady Tigers added one run in the third inning as Hillari Plummer singled to get on base and worked her away around the diamond, scoring on a passed ball.

In the fourth, sophomore Meredith Roberson walked on base and worked her way to third on a passed ball. She scored the final run on a Kayla Roden RBI as Roden grounded out to the pitcher for the second out.

In weekend action, the Lady Tigers participated in the Clarkdale Tournament near Meridian and not the Clarksdale Tournament as previously reported.

In the tournament, the Lady Tigers went 3-1 defeating Caledonia 10-0. Hitting a homerun was Stormy Robison. Kiihnl got the win, striking out nine.

The Lady Tigers shut out Harrison Central 4-0 with Kelsay and Haylei Plummer hitting doubles. Kiihnl again took the win, striking out 13 and allowing one hit.

In the third game against D’Iberville, there was a contested call in the first inning as South Panola lost 1-0. According to head coach Ashleigh Hicks, the Lady Tigers scored in the first inning on a hit to right field, but the official called the hit a foul.

“It was clearly inside the line by a foot,” Hicks said. “Our fans were furious.”

Despite taking the loss, Kiihnl fanned 16 batters and allowed one hit. Both teams made one error. Kiihnl and Robison both hit a double.

In the final game, the Lady Tigers downed Madison Central 4-1. Brooks hit a double and Hillari Plummer hit a triple.

Kiihnl struck out nine batters and allowed three hits. This season, Kiihnl (11-2) has 168 strikeouts to her credit, has allowed 14 hits for a .26 ERA (earned run average) and walked seven.

The Lady Tigers hosted Horn Lake in non-district action last night but the score was not available at press time.

Tuesday, the Lady Tigers are preparing for a district rematch with Tupelo who shut out the Lady Tigers 3-0 on March 11.

Hicks said the Lady Tigers are working to even the series with this team.

“We are really focusing on hitting the outside pitch,” she said. “We also will have our defense ready for the long ball that Tupelo hits.”

Next Thursday, March 27, the Lady Tigers travel to Columbus for another district match. The varsity will play following the junior varsity which begins at 5 p.m.