Lady ’Cats topple Sheldon

Sheldon Lady Panthers’ starting pitcher, Carrie Spencer, gets set prior to delivering a pitch.

Photo by Matt Resnick/Daily Mail

The Bronaugh Lady Wildcats earned its second victory of the season, defeating the visiting Sheldon Lady Panthers 8-4 Friday evening.

The contest was called after five innings due to darkness, as Bronaugh improves to 2-5 overall and 2-1 in Golden Valley Vernon County Conference-play. Sheldon is 0-3 overall.

Bronaugh jumped in front early, plating three first inning runs, as the Lady ’Cats went on top 5-0 at the conclusion of three innings of play.

In the top of the fourth, Sheldon capitalized on a Bronaugh error, two hit batters, and three passed balls, leading to four Lady Panthers touching home plate –– as Sheldon trailed 5-4 entering the home half of the fourth.

Bronaugh then struck back with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to go on top 8-4. Sheldon was unable to push any runs across in the top of the fifth, as the game was called due to darkness prior to the start of the bottom of the fifth.

For Bronaugh, Katie Norman, Katey Rider, and Page Wait each went an identical 2-for-3 at the plate, accounting for seven out of Bronaugh’s eight runs. Meanwhile, in the circle junior starting pitcher Abby Robertson fired a complete-game 2-hitter, allowing four runs (zero earned) en route to the victory.

For Sheldon at the plate, Hannah Garren finished 1-for-2 with a run, walk and stolen base; Mahalia Swink 1-for-3 with a run, walk and a pair of stolen bases; while Brooklyn O’Connor and Lakin Standly combined for four stolen bases and two runs.

For Sheldon in the circle, Carrie Spencer struck out a batter over four innings of work.

“We improved our skill-level,” Lady Panthers’ head coach Mike Galimberto said. “Scoring four runs against a good pitcher and defense was exciting and impressive.”

Galimberto continued: “Errors were drastically reduced, and teamwork (in relation to) making defensive plays was much better.

“I am so proud of their improvement each time they take the field –– and as we have three games (this week), I look forward to even more improvements, both offensively and defensively.”