By Angie Ledbetter
On a cold and windy Tuesday night the South Panola Lady Tigers fastpitch softball team shut out the Grenada Lady Chargers (6-7-2, 2-3) 4-0 for the annual Strike Out For Cancer (SOFC) game in honor of Coach Robert Lightsey.

Lightsey is battling leukemia and recovering from a stem cell transplant at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville.

Family members attending the game were Sandra Lynn Bright and husband Josh, Brad Lightsey and wife Kerry, Jerry Lightsey, Dennis Lightsey and the six grandchildren. Granddaughter Sadie Lightsey threw out the first pitch and was presented an autographed ball from the team for her pop.

The game was rescheduled from Monday night due to weather but the cold temperatures did not keep fans at home as they came out to support Lightsey and cheer the team on to a district victory.

Nicole Fullilove pitched the complete game in seven innings for South Panola (17-6 overall, 3-1 district), striking out nine and allowing two hits. Out of 76 pitches she threw 54 strikes and 17 of them were first pitch strikes.

The Lady Tigers had five hits, no errors and left five on the bags. The Lady Chargers had two hits, four errors and left one on base.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Chloe Morgan scored on a sacrifice fly by Hannah Moore. Morgan singled to get on base and then stole second.

Mallory Myers sac-bunt advanced Morgan to third and Fullilove got on first on a bunt.

In bottom of the fifth, Morgan Parker reached first on an error, followed by a bunt by Mackenzie Crutcher. Sydney Morgan loaded the bags on an error. With one out Chloe Morgan reached first on an error and Parker scored.

Crutcher advanced to third and Sydney Morgan to second to load the bases again.

Myers was then credited with a fielders’ choice as Crutcher was put out at home.

Bases were still loaded when Sydney Morgan made her way to third and younger sister Chloe followed to second. On a 1-2 pitch, Fullilove slammed a single to left, driving the sisters home.

Myers advanced to second and pinch runner Amber Helmes entered the game for Fullilove, but were left stranded with the Lady Tigers leading 4-0.

The South Panola defense stepped up along with Fullilove to stop Grenada from scoring in the top of the seventh. With two outs Grenada pitcher Olivia Burns hit a triple for her only hit of the game. Shortstop Kacey Carpenter hit a fly ball to Alli Cummins in right field for the third and final out.

Hitting for the Lady Tigers were Chloe Morgan, two; Myers, Fullilove and Parker, one each. Fullilove had two RBIs (runs batted in) and Moore, one.

South Panola traveled to Tupelo last night for another district game. The last time the two met the Lady Tigers won 11-0.

Today the Lady Tigers will travel to Southaven for a non-district contest at 12 and 1 p.m. They travel to Grenada on Monday for the Lady Chargers’ SOFC game at 5 and 6 p.m. to end the regular season.