By Angie Ledbetter

The South Panola Lady Tigers Fastpitch team was crowned district champions Thursday after they handed Columbus a 12-3 loss and finished with a 6-0 district record.

It took the Lady Tigers (13-12 overall) six hard-fought innings to win the game as the Lady Falcons battled to the end.

The championship sets up a match with District 3-6A runner up Madison Central in Jackson Friday at 5 p.m. Games 2 and 3, if necessary, will be played at South Panola on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The opening frame of the game South Panola went scoreless and spotted the Lady Falcons three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Lady Falcon’s second baseman Shargula Fulton started the scoring with an inside park homerun to right field. Adding the other two runs were first baseman Jessica Richardson and catcher Timaria Hudgins.

It took the Lady Tigers to the bottom of the fourth to score when shortstop Paige Jordan was hit by a pitch and later stole home. The Lady Tigers were down 3-1 in the bottom of the frame.

The Lady Tigers added two more runs in top of the fifth to tie the game at three when left fielder Meredith Roberson was hit by pitch. Third baseman Meri Morgan Fortune singled to shortstop. Pinch running for Fortune was Marla Rudd. Roberson and Rudd later scored.

The Lady Tiger’s defense held the Lady Falcons scoreless the remaining six innings.

Top of the six was the turn around in the game when the Lady Tigers mounted a rally scoring four runs. Christa Brown singled and later scored snapping the tie. Olivia Taylor, pinch runner for Allen and pinch runner Rudd for Fortune scored the next two runs. Ivy doubled and later scored to give the Lady Tigers a 7-3 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Falcons were shut down when Allen turned a double play by tagging out the force runner and throwing to first baseman Calvert for the second out. The third out came by a ground out to Fortune at third who threw to first baseman Calvert.

The Lady Tigers added insurance in the top of the seventh scoring five more runs. Christa Brown singled and stole second while Allen was at the plate. Allen doubled, sending Brown home. Olivia Taylor ran the bags for Allen. While Roberson was at bat, Taylor stole third with her speed and quickness. Roberson sacrificed a bunt bringing in Taylor and picking up an RBI.

   With two down, Ivy drew a walk. With Lauren Calvert at bat, Ivy stole second and third. Calvert was hit by a pitch. While Jordan was at the plate, Ivy came home and Calvert stole to third. Jordan slapped an inside park home run to center scoring Calvert and picking up two RBI and the12th run for the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers recorded eight hits, five errors and left 11 on base.

The Lady Falcons had one hit, 10 errors and left two on base. Picking up RBI (runs batted in) was Roberson, Lauren Calvert, Jordan, Taylor and Lindsey Calvert.

Head coach Ashleigh Hicks was proud of the team.

“I am very proud of the girl’s accomplishments. We will keep working and moving forward.”

Hicks told the team that she was proud of them first of all for winning the district.

“Second of all, we cannot go to games and warm up flat,” she said. “We told you during the entire junior varsity that you were flat. I’m not pleased how we showed up playing at all. I think mentally you came here thinking that you had this game. You can’t do that. It’s always a 0-0 ball game no matter what. Everybody has been beat by a team that you were better than them. Anybody is beatable at any given time. Finally we decided in the sixth inning that we’re playing ball. It’s like you forgot. I’m very proud of the district win but let’s keep going and keep rolling.”

Jr. Varsity

The junior varsity team defeated Columbus 8-2 in four innings for their last game of the season. Scoring runs for the Lady Tigers was Chresha Brown, Christa Brown, Olivia Taylor with 2, Deanna Taylor, Paige Jordan, Madison Taylor and Marla Rudd.

The games for Friday and Saturday were canceled due to weather.