On Wednesday, September 23 the varsity softball team played Winnetonka at home. It was varsity’s last home game of the season and for the seniors their last home game ever as a Panther.  

  The first inning is always a time to get the bats working and that is just what the girls did. Senior, Lauryn Deer had a base hit and ended up stealing second base. Then with a runner in scoring position Toni Martin a senior was up to bat. With the 2-2 pitch coming Toni eyed the ball and knocked it out into the outfield sending Lauryn Deer home: one RBI for Toni. She ended up stealing second right after that but sadly was left stranded on the base. After one inning the Panthers lead 1-0.

In the second inning not too much happened just some routine ground balls and flyouts. The third out excited the crowd as Emma Rockman a senior had a diving stop at first base for the final out.

It was now the middle of the game and the score was still 1-0. Winnetonka was up to bat with a chance for tying the game. They hit two flyouts to left and center field. Then at the next at bat they had a line drive up the middle missed by the Panther’s second basemen. With a scoring opportunity for Winnetonka their catcher was up to bat, and on the first pitch she swung and cranked one out to center field which dropped before the second basemen or the center fielder could get to the ball. The game was tied 1-1. The softball team finally got the last out and they headed to the end of the game.

No action happened until the last inning besides some plays in the field and other outs. In the last inning Lauryn Deer had a diving catch in left center field for the first out. Darby Lewis a junior then charged the bunt and got the second out of the inning. After all that their final batter was up with two outs, and she flied out to center field. It was a three up three down inning for the Panthers.

In the last inning the girls had a rally. First Payton Maier a freshman doubled on a throwing error by Winnetonka’s  second basemen. The first out came with a flyout to center field. Another out happened when their third basemen made a stop and almost threw out Payton as well. With only one out left Toni Martin stepped up to the plate, and again she hit a go ahead single as the Panthers won their last home game against Winnetonka High School. Since this game the varsity softball team lost to Blue Springs 7-1 and also Lee’s Summit West 11-0. The softball team will be taking on Truman tonight for last game of the season.