The Bluffton Lady Pirates earned their first ever softball District Championship Saturday afternoon at Wapakoneta, as they trounced the McComb Panthers 12-2 in 6 innings. The Pirates advanced to the finals after a 9-5 win over New Bremen on Friday evening.
The Pirates started off strong, scoring 4 runs in the first inning. Brianna Laing got the Pirates going with a perfect bunt and Katie Palte picked up a walk and a stolen base. Ashlin Gable blasted a shot to left field for an out, but Laing was able to tag up and score the first run. Molly Lengyel added a base hit to score Palte from third and Adrian Rumer cranked an RBI double to left field.
Mariah Welch stepped up to the plate and brought in Rumer with a single to center field, to put the Pirates up 4-0. McComb tallied one run in the first off a base hit to center field. The Panthers had base runners on first and second when Kayla Longworth missed the throwback to the mound from Lengyel.
Palte quickly acted, picking up the loose ball and throwing to Rumer at third to get the lead runner. Rumer not to be out done, fired to Laing at second to pick off the other Panther runner, doubling up the out to end the inning 4-1.
McComb added another run in the bottom of the second to make the score 4-2, but the Pirates never looked back as they steered the ship to victory.
The Pirates racked up 3 runs in the top of the third, as Gable blasted a single to center and took second on a passed ball. Lengyel picked up a walk, and Welch earned her second of four hits on the day with an RBI rip to center field.
Olivia Hunt batted in Shannon McKamey, who was pinch runner for Lengyel. McKamey was unable to play for the Pirates, due to an accident in Chemistry class, but kept the Pirate Pride going as she cheered and took over pinch running duty for the ladies. Welch scored the last run for the ladies on a passed ball, as the Pirates went up 7-2.
The Pirates continued to pound away at the Panthers in the fourth. Laing blasted an out to left field and Palte followed suit with a rip that popped out of the left fielders glove to earn base.
Gable picked up a walk as Palte moved to third on a passed ball. Lengyel took one for the team as she was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Palte scored on a passed ball and Rumer blasted a two run error to put the Pirates up 11-2. McComb loaded bases in the bottom of the fourth with two outs, but Palte picked off the line drive to end the inning for the Panthers.
The top of the sixth came with the Pirates only needing 2 runs and continued strong defense to end the game early. Palte took first with a walk, and Gable moved her to scoring position with a crack to left field. Lengyel smashed a single to score Palte and Kylee Barnett scored on an out by Rumer at first. McKamey was also picked off at second in a base running goof by the Pirates.
Welch went 4-4 as she picked up another hit to center field. Hunt popped up to first to end the inning with the needed two runs. All that remained for the Pirates was half an inning of excellent defense.
Gable chalked up the first out on a line drive at first base. The Panthers earned a base runner on the next batter with a bloop to left. The Pirates held strong as Palte caught a sharp line drive at short, and threw to Gable at first to catch the Panthers in a game sealing double play.
