BETHANY — The Pauls Valley Lady Panthers put together an impressive weekend on the diamond, with three victories in four games at the Bethany Invitational.
Game 1: Pauls Valley 2, Crescent 1
The Lady Panthers opened the tournament against a highly rated Crescent out of Class 2A that entered the matchup with a 16-1 record. In a pitcher's duel, Mallory Carter singled in the top of the fifth inning to drive home Elliot Owen, breaking a tie and securing the 2-1 victory. Raegan Close then shut the door in the bottom half of the frame, retiring the Tigers in order to seal the win.
Pauls Valley struck first in the top of the third. Avri Crouch scored on a sacrifice fly by Carter. Crescent tied the game in the bottom of the fourth off a PV error.
In the decisive fifth, Owen reached base on a two-out error before coming around to score the game-winner. Close led the offense with two hits, while Owen, Carter, Daylee O’Bryant, and Crouch each added one. In the circle, Close earned the victory, allowing just one unearned run while striking out seven and walking one.
Game 2: Newcastle 6, Pauls Valley 4
Newcastle erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first inning—all with two outs—highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Rollins. Facing an early deficit, Pauls Valley mounted a furious comeback effort.
The Lady Panthers broke through in the top of the third after Owen singled and scored on a Carter’s double. Carter scored on a Close single, cutting the deficit to 5-2. PV trimmed the lead to a single run in the fourth after Crouch walked and scored as Kamryn Townley reached on an error.
With two outs, Carter doubled home Townley to bring the score to 5-4. Newcastle managed an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth when Patrick scored on a Loman single.
Carter was 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Jessie Caldwell, Close, Owen, and Crouch also singled. Lily Rowland went the distance in the circle, allowing six runs on nine hits while striking out two.
Game 3: Pauls Valley 4, Weatherford 3
Carter’s bat delivered again in game three, as her three-run blast in the top of the third inning erased an early 1-0 deficit, propelling the Lady Panthers to a 4-3 win over Weatherford.
Carter’s home run scored Townley and Owen to push PV ahead 3-1. Close followed with a single, advanced to second on an errant throw, moved to third on an O’Bryant single, and finally scored on a Caldwell single to extend the lead to 4-1.
Weatherford answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, closing the gap to 4-3. The Lady Panthers worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth. Close got a game-ending groundout to Carter to escape the jam.
Rowland pitched 3.2 strong innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two. Close earned the save by securing the final groundball out. Owen, Carter, Close, O’Bryant and Caldwell each recorded a hit in the balanced offensive effort.
Game 4: Pauls Valley 5, Bethany 2
A definitive four-run explosion in the third inning proved to be the difference against the tournament host as Pauls Valley defeated Bethany 5-2 to wrap up a highly successful weekend.
The Lady Panthers took an early lead in the bottom of the second. After O'Bryant singled, Lily Rowland entered as a courtesy runner and scored as Crouch drew a bases-loaded walk.
PV broke the game open in the bottom of the third. Carter reached on an error to start the frame, moving to second on the play. She scored when Close reached safely on an error.
Close then stole third and scored on an O'Bryant single. After Caldwell singled, a double steal put both runners in scoring position. Townley's RBI single pushed the advantage to 5-0.
Bethany chipped away with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth, but Close slammed the door shut to secure the 5-2 win.
Close went the distance, allowing two runs on six hits. She struck out six and walked one. O’Bryant paced the offense with a pair of hits, with Owen, Caldwell, Townley and Kaisyn White each adding a hit.
