Lady Panthers earn second place
By JARED PUTNAM

Kaley Sullivan, the baserunner, and the ball all collide at second base.

The Lady Panthers varsity softball team kicked off the season in style, going 5-1 to take second place in a tournament held at Lanier Point. "To get second in that tournament was big," said new Head Coach Jessica Stewart. "Now my expectations are going to go up because I know they are capable of more of it."

The team began the tournament by defeating Providence 4-3. April Harper hit a two-run homerun, which Coach Stewart believes is the first homerun by a Union County softball player since the fastpitch program began.

The second game pitted the Lady Panthers against Lumpkin. Coach Stewart said she was very pleased with that 4-2 win because the team had trouble matching up against Lumpkin County the previous season. Amanda Mason homered in that game.

The third contest was an 11-0 blowout win over Johnson. Brooklyn Swartz struck out eight while allowing only 2 hits and no runs. Lauren Dyer put one over the fence in that game while Mason went 4 for 4 with 3 doubles.

The fourth game was another impressive win, this time an 8-2 victory against Commerce. Harper was able wreak havoc on both sides of the ball, striking out 9 and allowing only 1 hit while on the mound, and going 3 for 3 with a grand slam and a pair of doubles at the plate. She finished with 5 RBI for the game.

Lauren Dyer singles up the middle in the home opener.

The game against West Hall was perhaps the most exciting game, as the team came from behind to win. Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Union scored three runs to even the score. In the next inning Ashley Beltinck, who was catching to give Dyer a rest, hit a walk-off homerun to win the game 6-4. "That was really what gave them confidence," said Coach Stewart.

Against Westminster the team played well but was edged 2-1 by the opposition. The team had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to capitalize.

Still, the tournament was a great rebound effort after a 6-1 loss to North Hall in the home opener. "That was a tough home opener," said Coach Stewart. The team was doomed by 8 errors."You can't win a close game with eight errors," said the coach. Over the tournament the team had 16 errors. "I think they were nervous said Coach Stewart. "We will work on defense and bunt coverage. It just takes repetition."

For the tournament Jess Seabolt led the team with a .545 average, going 12-22 and scoring 6 runs.

April Harper batted .429 with 2 homeruns, four doubles, and 10 RBI.

Amanda Mason had a .353 average with one homerun, three doubles, and seven runs scored.

On the mound Harper was almost unhittable, pitching 16 innings and only allowing a single earned run for a 0.14 ERA while striking out 25.

Dana Seabolt also enjoyed strong performances, posting a mere 0.36 ERA of her own.