News Ticker

Panthers take district title, 10-4, over Rams

May 24, 2024 PVNPublisher 0

Page County (20-1) hosts Fort Defiance (7-13) in Region 2B Quarterfinal

By Randy Arrington

SHENANDOAH, May 23 — Page County racked up yet another Bull Run District championship in softball on Thursday with a 10-4 win over second-seeded Strasburg. The Panthers recorded a dozen hits off one of the best pitching staffs in the region, while committing no errors and giving up only one walk in the title game. Page (20-1) has now won 15 straight heading into the Region 2B quarterfinal on Monday — Memorial Day — when they host Fort Defiance (7-13) at 6 p.m.

The Panthers found themselves in strange territory in the second inning of Thursday’s championship when they fell behind 2-0. Sophomore Hannah Merriner lead-off the inning for the Rams with the first of her three hits on the day. A fielder’s choice hit by senior Rylie Arnold then scored the first run, followed by a solo home run by senior Kiersten Wiseley.

However, Page County answered back quickly, and in a big way — scoring six runs off six hits and one Strasburg error in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Savannah Shifflett hit an RBI-single to centerfield that got the Panthers on the board. Following an error and a walk, Page strung together five consecutive hits, with senior Arianna Roudabush picking up an RBI and sophomore Aliyah Knight knocking in two runs. Junior Emma Lucas got the last single of the inning and recorded two RBI.

After going six-up, six-down in the third, both teams would add runs in the fourth. Merriner picked up her second single of the day and Arnold got another RBI as the Rams narrowed the gap to 6-3. The Panthers added two runs in the bottom of the inning off a single by sophomore Kahlei Shifflett to go up 8-3.

After a silent fifth inning, each team would again add runs in the sixth. Merriner completed a 3-for-3 day with an RBI-double to left field to give the Rams their final run. Page got an RBI-double from senior Bailee Gaskins and an RBI-single from Kahlei Shifflett to cap their scoring as well.

Page County was lead at the plate by Roudabush, a Division II Coker College-commit who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a single and an RBI. Kahlei Shifflett went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Knight went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Overall, the Panthers earned 10 runs off 12 hits and three Strasburg errors, while stranding six runners on base.

Gaskins, also a Division II commit to Coker, recorded nine strikeouts, while only walking one in seven innings in the circle. The Rams would earn three runs off five hits, while stranding one. Strasburg was lead by Merriner’s 3-for-3 effort with an RBI, while Wiseley went 1-for-3 (HR) and Arnold went 1-for-4 with two RBI.

All-District selections are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 28.

Both teams now advance to the Region 2B tournament, which gets underway with quarterfinals on Memorial Day — Monday, May 27.

Region 2B QUARTERFINALS