By Angie Ledbetter

The South Panola Tiger slow pitch team traveled to J. Z. George Saturday and won both games in the tournament.

In the first game, the Lady Tigers defeated Winona 9-7 after a slow start. The second game was much easier when they handed Weir a 12-4 loss.

Winona started the game with a quick offense. They scored four runs in the first inning, two in the second and one in the third.

The Lady Tigers were down 7-1 at the bottom of the third with Amanda Ivy’s run. South Panola added two runs in bottom of the fourth when Chresha Brown and Sarah Cole scored.

Their bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth when they scored six runs. Scoring was Ivy, Meri Morgan Fortune, Chresha Brown, Cole, Marla Rudd and Crystal Contreras. They held Winona scoreless in the fourth and fifth inning to get the victory.

The Lady Tigers recorded 22 hits, 15 errors and left eight on base. Sophomore Christa Brown picked up the win.

Dorian Winfield pitched her debut game against Weir for the Lady Tigers. Weir scored one run in the top of the first but the Lady Tigers added four in the bottom of the frame with runs by Ivy, Fortune, Cole and Contreras.

In the top of the second, the Lady Tigers held Weir scoreless but added three runs by Ivy, Fortune and Danielle Townsend.

Weir scored one run in the top of third but the Lady Tigers exploded in the bottom of the frame with a grand slam by shortstop Christa Brown. The ball did not go over the fence, but she hit the ball to left field with bases loaded. She sent Fortune, Misty Jenkins and Ivy home in front of her to give her team a 12-2 lead. Weir scored two runs in the top of the fourth and the Lady Tigers went scoreless in the bottom.

Thirty two hits were recorded by the Lady Tigers with 15 errors and eight left on base. Weir had 19 hits, 15 errors and six left on base.

Head Coach Kim Wilson said her team came out as cold as they could be in the first game.

“We were fortunate enough that we had our errors early and Winona’s came later,” Wilson said. “I think we were just stale at the beginning of the game. I was proud of the win but more proud to see their character in game one. If that is what this team is about, then it is going to be a good season. A win-loss record is important but that kind of attitude is ideal for a coach.”

Wilson moved some players around in the second game and saw the team hit better.

“I did a lot of subbing with the new players that did not get to play in the first game.”

Wilson bragged on the two pitchers, Christa Brown and Winfield.

“Christa is a veteran and nothing rattles her,” Wilson said. “Dorian had a good idea that she was going to pitch some because she had been practicing. She was a little bit nervous but did well.”

The Lady Tigers will host M. S. Palmer today at 4 p.m. and travel to Independence Thursday at 4.