By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, April 26 — For three innings, it looked like a tough, district matchup. It looked like it would go the distance. The visiting Eagles of Clarke got on the scoreboard first, putting the district-leading host Page in one of its only deficits of the season. However, the game would only last five innings after the Panthers scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth, en route to a 13-1 victory.
Page County senior Bailee Gaskins had a career day — going 3-for-3 at the plate, while striking out 12 of 18 batters she faced from the circle. Gaskins batted in five of Page’s 13 runs, including a grand slam in the explosive fourth inning and a solo home run in the third. The right-hander only gave up one earned run off two hits and one walk in five innings.
Clarke County junior Courtney Paskel belted a big triple to right field in the first inning and scored the Eagles’ only run off a double that followed by senior Anna Hornbaker. Those two hits produced the only run and only offensive production that Clarke would have the rest of the game, and they were followed by Gaskins’ only walk. After the first inning, no other Eagle reached first base — Gaskins would retire the next 12 batters she faced.
Gaskins also produced the Panthers only hit in the first inning with a single. Page stranded two, but could not score in the first frame. However, they tied the game in the second off an unearned run. A single by sophomore Ali Purdham was followed by a hit batter and two walks to knot the game at 1-1. Aggressive base running ended with two consecutive unsuccessful plays at the plate to conclude the inning.
In the third, Page County took the lead, 3-1, off a solo home run from Gaskins and an RBI-single from senior Savannah Shifflett. The Panthers’ bats exploded in the bottom of the fourth for four hits — including back-to-back home runs — combined with four walks, two hit batters and a fielding error to produce 10 runs. Gaskins then struck out the Eagles in order to close out the game by slaughter rule in the fifth.
Page sophomore Kahlei Shifflett belted a solo home run in the decisive fourth inning and went 1-for-2 on the day. Also going 1-for-2 at the plate for Page were Purdham, Shifflett and junior catcher Emma Lucas. Aliah Knight went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single in the fourth. Overall, the Panthers recorded eight hits, left six runners on base and recorded no errors in the field.
Through 14 games this season, the Page County Panthers softball team has outscored their opponents 164-23. Five games remain in the regular season, with four matchups in the Bull Run District.
Page County (8-0, 13-1) has now won eight consecutive games and remains in a two-game lead of first place in the Bull Run District. Next up, the Panthers travel to Skyline for a non-district matchup at 6 p.m. Monday, April 29, followed by another road game at Madison (3-4, 3-8) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30.
Clarke County (3-4, 7-8) will host Strasburg (5-2, 11-3) at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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