By Brad Greer

While most Panolians had their television sets glued to ESPN to watch the South Panola-Hoover football game Saturday afternoon, the North Delta softball squad had more pressing issues in mind.

Behind the solid relief pitching of Peyton Rico, the Lady Green Wave overcame three errors and eight runners left on base to take a 7-4 District 1-2A win over Indianola.

“We just did not play well defensively today. Take away those errors and you’re looking at a 7-1 ballgame. But I guess that’s what we get for not practicing. With girls basketball and cheerleading and other stuff it’s hard to cram everything together,“ said North Delta head coach Damon Plummer.

After retiring the Colonels in order in the top of the first, North Delta struck for three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Bradi Beard led off with a double then scored on Laci Dubravec’s single to left.

The Wave scored another run as courtesy runner Hannah Heafner scored on a wild pitch later in the inning. Erin Snider then reached on a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Hastings Neal RBI groundout.

 Indianola responded with three runs in the top of the second off Green Wave starting pitcher Grayson Sims to tie the game at three as Rico came on relief of Sims to record the final out of the inning.

North Delta regained the lead at 4-3 in the bottom half of the frame as Heafner, who pitch-hit for Courtney DuBravec, drew a one-out walk then  came home on Laci DuBravec’s single.

The Colonels knotted the game up yet again in the third when Taylor Kisner reached on a single then scored on a Tyler Domino single up the middle.

That would be the last hit Rico would allow as the sophomore retired the last 10-of-11 batters she faced in the game.

The score would stay tied at four until the bottom of the fifth when North Delta erupted for three runs on five hits to  take a 7-4 lead.

Neal, Anna Lloyd, Julianna Morrow and Katherine Rich all singled to start the rally. Heafner gounded out to drive in Neal to break the tie before Beard’s two-run single drove in Lloyd and Morrow.

Beard led North Delta with a double and two singles while DuBravec followed with a pair of singles.
North Delta (11-5; 4-1) travels to Indianola today before returning home next Tuesday for a huge district matchup with Carroll Academy.