By Ashley Crutcher
SP Varsity 11, Tupelo Varsity 1
The No. 4 MaxPreps state ranked South Panola Lady Tigers fastpitch softball team faced rival Tupelo Golden Waves Tuesday night in district action and sent them home with a run-ruled 11-1 win in six innings.
The first two innings were scoreless. Senior pitcher Caroline Dickins struck out four of seven players she faced, one in the first inning and three in the second.
 In the bottom of the third, Amber Helmes tripled to left field and scored on a Chloe Morgan triple to right. A single to left center by Mallory Myers drove in Morgan for the 2-0 lead.
Tupelo (7-4 overall, 0-1 district) avoided the shutout with a solo homerun in top of the third by Ivy Watts.
In the fifth inning, the Lady Tigers’ second baseman Haley Reid scooped up two ground balls, tossing them to Alli Cummins at first for the first and third outs of the inning. Dickins caught a bunt hit to her for the second out.
South Panola (10-1 overall, 3-0 district) added three more runs in bottom of the fifth for the 5-1 lead.
Amber Helmes singled and Chloe Morgan beat out the throw to first on her bunt.
Dickins walked to load the bases before double to left center by Cummins drove Helmes and Chloe Morgan home. Sydney Morgan’s double to left center drove in courtesy runner Edwards for the last run of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, Dickins struck out the first batter. A dropped fly allowed a runner to make it to second. A Tupelo runner was caught in a run-down between third baseman Morgan Parker and shortstop Mallory Myers. Myers got the tag as she chased the runner to third. Chloe Morgan caught a pop fly to right center for the third out.
The Lady Tigers put the game away in the sixth inning as they faced a new pitcher.
Rebecca Garner singled to right center. Helmes was hit by a pitch. Myers singled to left center driving in Garner. Dickins singled to center field. Reid beat out the throw to first on a bunt and got to second on a passed ball which allowed Myers to score.
Cummins walked to load the bases and Sydney Morgan’s walk drove home Dickins. Parker’s single to right drove home Reid and Cummins for the last two runs of the game.
Myers led at the plate going 3-for-4, one run and two RBIs.
Other hitters include dHelmes, 2-for-3, one triple, one hit by a pitch, three runs; Chloe Morgan, 2-for-4, one triple, one RBI, two runs; Dickins, 2-for-5, two walks; Reid, 1-for-4, one run; Ali Cummins, 2-for-4, one double, one walk, two RBIs, one run; Sydney Morgan, 2-for-4, one double, one walk, one RBI; Parker, 2-for-4, two RBIs; and Rebecca Garner, 1-for-1, one run.
Dickins pitched the complete game in six innings for the win, striking out seven of 23 batters faced. She allowed no walks, one hit by a pitch, two hits and one earned run.
The Lady Tigers varsity and junior varsity will travel to Southaven to face the Lady Chargers Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.