Lady Pirates lose in sb

KENNEDALE — You couldn’t blame Perrin Softball Coach Ben Staggs for being optimistic heading into Saturday night’s playoff game with Valley View. Despite his Pirates losing 6-2 in Game 1 of the best-of-three series, Staggs saw his squad slam the door in the final five innings of the opener, lending hope of a comeback in the series.

That hope would be short-lived, however.

Wanting to get out to a quick start, the Lady Eagles struck for three runs in the first inning and were never headed in a 15-1, five-inning game at Lady Kat Field. Perrin, which finished third in District 11-A, ends its season at 13-7.

Despite the disappointing setback to end the campaign, Staggs was pleased with how the overall campaign went.

“We finished 11-3 in district which is the best district finish we’ve had,” Staggs said after the 91-minute game. “We had a young freshman pitcher and I think our pitcher struggled tonight.”

Kaylie Anderson was roughed up for 14 hits in the loss but Staggs sees bright things coming from Anderson and freshman battery mate Hallie Carter.

The Pirate group of seniors, who played in their last varsity game, went to the postseason three out of their four years. Staggs said it was a slow start, but his troops began to peak at the right time. 

To its credit, Perrin never went down in order in any inning, always threatening. In the first, Ashlyn Cox was safe on an error but was stranded as the next three hitters were set down by Valley View pitcher Lauren Bierschenk.

In the second, leadoff hitter Lara Jones singled but was forced at second in place of Jetton Cansler. The next two hitters were retired.

Perrin opened the third with Aubrey Chapman beating out an infield single and moving to second on an errant throw to retire her. Chapman was retired on a fielder’s choice, which brought Cox aboard. Cox was nearly retired at second on another fielder's choice play but a dropped ball kept her and Anderson safe. A popout and strikeout would end the rally.

After knocking three times, Perrin finally got on the board in the fourth. Jones came through with her second single of the game. With one gone, Maddison Richardson lofted a fly to right, which was dropped by the fielder, putting runners at second and third.

Danyelle Kuhn’s groundout to second brought Jones home but Richardson was stranded as a strikeout ended the rally.

Carter ended her freshman year on a high note, stroking a two-out double to center in the fifth. She was left as a groundout to third ended the game on mercy rule.