By Angie Ledbetter

The Lady Tigers saw their season come to an end in back-to-back first round playoff losses to Desoto Central, 1-0, 7-2 on Friday and Saturday.

The Lady Tigers (14-11) had five hits in game one, made three errors and left five on base. In game two they also had five hits, two runs, six errors and left three on base.

In game one Desoto Central scored the only run in the top of the first when the catcher hit a double to left and later scored.

In game two, Desoto Central scored three runs in the bottom of the third on four Lady Tiger errors. The Lady Tigers scored two runs in top of the fourth to cut the lead 4-2. Second baseman Lindsey Calvert singled. First baseman Lauren Calvert was hit by pitch. Shortstop Caroline Dickins hit a double to left, driving both Calvert sisters home for the only two runs of the game.

In bottom of the frame, Desoto Central scored after a runner beat out a run-down. A three-run homer in bottom of the fifth was the final runs of the game.

On losing game two, Lady Tiger head coach Ashleigh Hicks was concerned that the youth of the Lady Tigers was an issue.

“I actually think our age showed up today and our defense didn’t show up. We had an eighth grader on the mound and she threw the ball very well but you have to play defense behind her.”

Hicks said the third inning was “the big inning” with the four straight errors.

Hicks knew that going into game two would be hard especially after losing the first game.

“Going to anybody’s home field is a hard game. That’s like going into somebody’s house but I think we could’ve made a better run for it.”

Calling the runner safe in the run down led to heated exchange on the field.

“I think it was the turning point for us as well,” Hicks said. “If we had gotten that out that might have been a little bit of momentum going our way.

“Of course I thought she was out,” Hicks added. “When I went up to the umpire I asked him about the running lane base line which is three feet from when the run down starts. We had already made two throws and the runner was over in the grass on that side and I thought she was out of the base line but the umpire said it was three feet from where the ball is. That’s a new one on me.”

As far as the two pitchers in both games, Hicks was pleased.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better job from my two pitchers. They played their position well and they both hit well. Both of them did their jobs extremely well.”

Hicks summed up this season as a whole.

“We had no seniors,” she said. “We started an eighth and 10th grader on the mound. They worked very hard and I know that. We started in June weight lifting and running twice a week. We practiced all fall and went through the Christmas holidays. I think we should’ve made it farther in the playoffs but I am pleased with my team. I’m proud of them and there is no other place I’d rather be.”

The future outlook for the Lady Tigers is good, according to Hicks.

“We’ll return everybody next year,” she said. “As young as they are, they’ll have experience. I think they saw how they could play at points and times. I told them they had to leave with a positive attitude and return with one. We’ll be somebody to watch out for next year. I think we have a great future and this is just the beginning of what is going to happen at South Panola.”

The team batted .240 this year with 140 hits on 584 at-bats.

They have 85 runs on 20 doubles, nine triples and one homerun.