Perrin SB wins game one

BOWIE – The monkey is off Perrin’s back.

After qualifying and losing in the first round for the last four years, Perrin’s softballers used enough timely hitting and a good pitching performance from Niecia Gary to post a 6-3 win over Alvord in Thursday night’s opener of the Class 2A bi-district series.

Games two and three, if necessary, are set for Saturday evening in Jacksboro. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

Perrin Coach Ben Staggs said his squad was able to take advantage of Alvord pitcher Gracie Gose.

“We’re better vs. faster pitchers and we continue to show that,” Staggs said following the two-hour contest. “We also didn’t let mistakes kill us like they have in the past.”

A pair of Perrin errors allowed two Lady Bulldog runs to score in the fourth inning to give Alvord a 2-1 lead. Perrin came right back in the bottom of the inning with a three-run frame and was never headed again.

In the Perrin fourth, Jetton Cansler and Aubrey Chapman opened with walks. Freshman Netali Lopez then singled home Cansler which proved to be the end of the road for Gose in the circle. Kinly Walker came on in relief and was greeted by Kamryn Staggs’ rocket to second base, which went into right centerfield to plate Chapman. Lopez later came home on a wild pitch before the next three hitters were retired.

Alvord got a run on a hit batter, two wild pitches and a groundout in the fifth but the Lady Pirates again had an answer, scoring twice in the bottom of the inning.

Cansler drew another walk with Lopez beating out a two-out infield single. Staggs then roped a double into the right-centerfield gap to plate the pair. Ashton Sims drew a walk but the pair was stranded after a strikeout.

Gary finished the job from there, retiring the side in order in the final two innings with a pair of her nine strikeouts.

“This is a big step for us, no matter what happens from here,” Staggs said. “We were able to get the win which hopefully will help.”