Lady Panthers suffer loss to Tom Bean, 7-6

• Senior Evie Fuentes-Perry (6) takes a big cut off of a pitch during recent home action. In what turned out to be her final high school softball game, Fuentes-Perry batted 2/4 and recorded four RBIs in the Lady Panthers' 7-6 loss in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. Photo by DJ Spencer

NH couldn’t contain lead late

PARIS — The North Hopkins Lady Panthers saw their season come to a heartbreaking end Thursday following a 7-6 loss to the Tom Bean Lady Tomcats in the Bi-District round of the playoffs at Chisum High School. Despite leading heading into the final inning, the Lady Panthers couldn’t hold their advantage, as the Lady Tomcats scored three unanswered runs to steal the win.

The Lady Tomcats got on the board first, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning and establishing a 2-0 lead. The Lady Panthers answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Daylee Fite and Stevana Buchanan both scored, as North Hopkins tied the score at 2-2.

Following a scoreless second inning, the Lady Panthers pulled ahead in the third inning when Buchanan scored her second run of the game, giving North Hopkins a 3-2 lead. This was followed by a scoreless fourth inning.

The Lady Tomcats would reclaim their lead in the top of the fifth inning with two runs, pulling ahead 4-3. The Lady Panthers answered back with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Fite and Buchanan scored again, as North Hopkins pulled ahead 5-4.

In the sixth inning, the Lady Panthers added onto their lead when Fern Hernandez scored a run. This brought North Hopkins’ lead to 6-4.

The Lady Tomcats would catch fire in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three runs and pulling ahead 7-6. The Lady Panthers were then retired in order during the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Lady Tomcats handed them a disappointing 7-6 loss.

As a team, the Lady Panthers batted 13 for 31 (.419) from the plate. Buchanan and Fite led with three hits. Morgan Burnett and Evie-Fuentes Perry recorded two hits each, and Fern Hernandez, Lucy Hernandez, and Hadlee Hrabal added one hit a piece.

Buchanan was the leading scorer with three runs. Fite added two runs, and Fern Hernandez scored one run.

Fite pitched the full seven innings in the circle, striking out 14 batters and recording 10 hits, seven runs (six earned), and three walks.

With the loss, the Lady Panthers’ season has come to an end. They finish their first season under Phillip Mathis with a 13-7-1 record, also finishing as district runners-up and Bi-District finalists.

This would go down as the final high school softball game for three senior Lady Panthers: Burnett, Jaylynn Elder, and Fuentes- Perry.

The Lady Panthers will look to improve in the offseason and make a deeper playoff run next year.