It took Alba-Golden’s starting hurler Adielyn Smith exactly nine pitches to get warmed up last Tuesday. She walked the first two Cumby hitters with those pitches. Then, she found her delivery and led the Lady Panthers to a 17-0 blanking of the visiting Cumby Lady Trojans.

In four innings Smith faced 16 batters – striking out seven, walking two and giving up only one base hit. 

Smith’s recipe for the opposing hitters was velocity and placement. When hitters were not overcome by Smith’s pace, they succumbed to her excellent placement.

Meanwhile, the Lady Panthers were busy at the plate. They stroked 11 base hits and took advantage of numerous Cumby fielding errors. The base paths were largely open and the Lady Panthers took advantage. 

Seven Lady Panthers chalked up base hits, with Jayla Sitar, Smith and Averi Stevenson contributing multiple hits. Sitar and Stevenson each recorded inside-the-park home runs with drives into the outfield gaps. 

Standing at 2-1 to start district play, the Lady Panthers certainly had their upcoming series against Hawkins in mind. They visited Hawkins on Tuesday, March 18 and host the Lady Hawks on Friday, March 21. That should be a challenge of a different order.