The Alba-Golden Lady Panthers are bi-district softball champions. They made short work of the Linden-Kildare Lady Tigers last week with a two-game sweep by scores of 8-2 and 8-0. 

The Lady Panthers clinched the title behind a complete-game, four-hit performance by hurler Adie Smith. In the deciding game, she recorded nine strike-outs and remained near the strike zone throughout.   

Alba-Golden crossed the plate five times in the first inning. They simply kept putting the ball in play. Smith, Lilly Thorn, Rylee Hass, Abby Thompson and Sadie Wright each recorded an RBI in the opening inning. 

Averi Stevenson, who went 3 for 4 on the day, added a run in the fifth with a lead-off blast over the left field fence. It was a line-drive shot which never rose more than 20 feet above the turf and easily cleared the fence in left. 

The Lady Panthers chalked-up two more runs in the sixth. Rylee Hass singled and circled the bases on a couple of steals and a Lady Tiger throwing error. With two away, Lilly Price singled to right. She scored on a Jayla Sitar double to center.

The play of the game came from third baseman Joecey Lewers. The lead-off hitter for Linden-Kildare in the top of the sixth smashed a hard one-hopper to third. Lewers reacted by lurching forward and to her left to just snag the grounder. From her knees she then pegged a perfect throw across the diamond to nab the runner at first. It was a spectacular play.  

The Lady Panthers have no intention of ending their season’s run anytime soon. If they can retain their composure, continue to make contact at the plate, and correct those small but critical nuances of the game which give a team an edge, they can be playing yet for a while. 

Next up is Frankston, which defeated Harleton in two games. All games are in Canton, with game one played Wednesday at 6 p.m. and the second game Thursday at 6 p.m. If a third game Is needed it will be Saturday at 8 p.m.