Lady Tigers swept Columbus in doubleheader

By Myra Bean
The South Panola Lady Tigers fastpitch kept up their dominance in 1-6A Region 2 with a doubleheader sweep of Columbus Friday night.
The Lady Tigers run-ruled both games with a 15-0 shutout in four innings and 17-2 three-inning wins.
The seven seniors were recognized between games: Tra’Meisha Toliver, Tia Townsend, Madison Morgan, Sydney Morgan, Mallory Myers, Morgan Parker and Taylor Utz.
Also between games, checks were presented to the three men honored during the Strikeout for Cancer drive: James Jenkins, Johnny Earl Jones and Bro. Larry Kilgore. Only Mr. Jenkins himself was present as the other two did not feel well enough to come and family members accepted on their behalf.
South Panola 15, Columbus 0
South Panola’s bats were hot against Columbus and should serve the team as they take on the tough Hernando Lady Tigers tonight in more district action. The games start at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
South Panola scattered five hits, seven walks and five hit by pitches to get runners on base and in position to score.
The three leadoff batters, Mallory Myers, Chloe Morgan and Ali Cummins each went 1-for-4. Chloe Morgan and Cummins scored two runs each while Myers had one run. Myers and Morgan had one RBI (run batted in) while Cummins and Taylor Utz had two RBIs. Utz went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Sydney Morgan made good use of her time on the bases. She went 1-for-3 with one walk, one RBI and one hit by pitch and scored three runs.
The Lady Tigers took a 3-0 lead going into the second inning. Haven Dulin, Utz and Morgan Parker drove home Myers, Chloe Morgan and Cummins, respectively for the runs.
Another three runs were added in the second inning. Nautica Edwards who walked and scored on a wild pitch. Myers and Chloe Morgan scored on RBIs by Cummins and Dulin.
The Lady Tigers shook off the slow start and scored eight runs in bottom of the third for the 14-0 lead. Columbus allowed four walks in that inning which loaded the bases and walked runs in.
Edwards scored the last run in bottom of the fourth on Chloe Morgan’s bunt RBI.
Kaitlyn Tidwell got the start on the mound with three strikeouts and allowed three hits over three innings. Rebekah Cook pitched a no hitte inning in relief.
South Panola 17,
Columbus 2
Columbus scored two runs in top of the first to avoid a shutout.
After the presentation break between games, the Lady Tigers showed no mercy taking a 10-2 lead into the second inning. Columbus gave up five hits, seven walks and hit five batters. South Panola scored two runs in bottom of the second and five in bottom of the third. They had only one out and bases loaded when the game was called due to the mercy run rule.
Getting one hit each were Myers, Chloe Morgan, Cummins, Utz and Sydney Morgan. Cummins and Utz each had two RBIs while Myers, Chloe Morgan and Sydney Morgan had one RBI each.
Nautica Edwards went 1-for-3 with two runs, four RBIs and two walks. Cummins and Utz had two RBIs.
Cook pitched the complete game in three innings for the win. She had four strikeouts, allowed four hits, and hit two batters which were the only two scores allowed.
The Lady Tigers have a busy week ahead. After tonight’s game, tomorrow they travel to Lake Cormorant for a makeup game that was postponed due to wet fields last week. Games are at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, they travel to Grenada to play Grenada’s Strikeout For Cancer game at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. and includes junior high and junior varsity games.