Untimely errors erased a great performance in the circle by Pauls Valley southpaw Raegan Close on Monday in a District 4A-2 battle against Cache.
Errors by Pauls Valley in the third and fourth innings led to single runs for Cache in both frames. Another defensive mishap in the sixth extended the inning for Cache, allowing them to plate six runs and build an 8-0 lead.
Elliot Owen singled for the Lady Panthers to start the bottom of the sixth. Close then reached on a one-out error to move Owen to second. Kaisyn White hit the first pitch she saw, and Owen was off and running on contact. White reached safely on an error while Owen rounded third and scored standing up, for the Lady Panther’s only run of the game.
Pauls Valley finished with three hits on the night—two singles from White and one from Owen.
Close allowed eight runs (only one earned) on eight hits over her outing, striking out four and walking three. Lily Rowland came in and got the final out of the game.
Ella Mebane paced the Bulldog offense with two hits, while ZaiLea Rodriguez, Madison Lema, and Kinlee Wallace each added extra-base hits. With the victory, Cache improved to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in district play.
Hadlee Hunt was nearly unhittable in the win, pitching a complete game, giving up one unearned run on three hits. She struck out 16 Pauls Valley batters and walked only one.
Pauls Valley (4-4, 1-1) will look to rebound Tuesday as they host highly ranked Blanchard. The Lions (7-0) enter as one of just seven undefeated teams in Class 4A.
