Reid goes 4-for-4
By Myra Bean
The South Panola Lady Tiger fastpitch softball team stepped out of conference play Tuesday and traveled to Cordova to take on St. Benedict.
The No. 6 state ranked Lady Tigers (15-3 overall, 3-0 district) left with an 8-2 win behind four hits by senior second baseman Haley Reid.
St. Benedict scored both of its run in bottom of the first inning on a fielding error and a double RBI (run batted in).
Reid singled in top of the second and scored on a Morgan Parker ground out to shortstop to cut the lead 2-1.
South Panola made St. Benedict pay on fielding errors in top of the third as it scored two runs and took the 3-2 lead.
Senior shortstop Amber Helmes reached first on a bunt and then advanced to third on a fielding error when sophomore center fielder Chloe Morgan reached first on the same error.
Senior pitcher Caroline Dickins walked to load the bases as Nautica Edwards replaced her as courtesy runner.
On a fielder’s choice by Alli Cummings, Helmes was out going home, but the bases remained loaded. Reid singled to left driving home Chloe Morgan and Edwards.
The hitting continued in top of the fourth as the Lady Tigers scored three runs.
Parker singled to center field with a hard ground ball. Senior catcher Rebekah Garner reached first on a sac-bunt and Helmes walked to load the bases.
Parker was thrown out at home on Chloe Morgan’s fielder’s choice.
Mallory Meyers doubled to center field to drive home Garner and Helmes for the 5-2 lead.
On the next play, Dickins grounded out to second allowing Chloe Morgan to score from third.
With her third hit of the night, Reid singled in top of the fifth and scored on a Garner RBI single to center field for the 7-2 lead.
The final insurance run came in top of the seventh as Reid got her fourth hit of the night and advanced to second on a Sydney Morgan ground up to the pitcher. Reid stole third to get in better scoring position and came home on a Parker single to short on a ground ball.
After the first two innings, the Lady Tiger defense was relentless. There were three hits and three walks from innings three to five.
In six and seven, there was no give from South Panola as St. Benedict went three-up and three-down in both.
Dickins took the complete game win in seven innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs while walking five.
She struck out 11 of  33 batters faced for a 2.00 ERA (earned run average).
Reid led the plate going 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs and was named player of the game.
Other hitters were: Parker 2-for-4, two RBIs; Meyers, 1-for-4, double, two RBIs; Helmes, 1-for-2, one run; Chloe Morgan, 0-for-5, two runs; and Garner, 1-for-2, one run, one RBI.
The Lady Tigers honored South Panola teacher Tina Benson at its Strike Out Cancer game last night against Grenada. Game scores were not available at halftime.
The Lady Tiger Jr. high and Jr. varsity teams will play in the Hernando tournament today and tomorrow.
The Jr. high will play today at 6:20 p.m. against Lake Cormorant.
The Jr. Varsity will play Lake Cormorant at 10:20 a.m. Saturday.