The Tug Valley Lady Panthers got 5 runs in bottom of the 2nd as they pulled away for a convincing 8-0 win over the Van Lady Bulldogs in the opening round of the sectional tournament on Monday in Naugatuck.
After a scoreless first inning, the Lady Panthers jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 2nd inning. With two outs, Megan Griffey singled home McKynnli Farley for the first run of the game. Hailey Newsome then scored on an infield single from Bailee Hall for a 2-0 Tug Valley lead. Kinna Justice drove in Griffey and Jessica Spaulding on a single to left field. The Lady Panthers’ final run in the inning came when Hall scored on an error for a 5-0 lead.
Griffey then excited the crowd in the bottom of the 4th inning when she smacked a line drive to right field. She sped around the bases and came home for an inside the park home run to make it a 6-0 lead. Tug Valley wasn’t done with inside the park home runs as Hall added one on a shot to center field in the bottom of the 6th for a 7-0 lead. Later in the same inning, Amelya Wellman scored on a bases loaded walk for the game’s final run.
Justice was dominant in the pitcher’s circle, allowing only 2 hits while striking out 9 batters.
Tug Valley will next take on top-seeded Man on Wednesday at 6:30 pm in Man.
Photo Courtesy of Karen Watts
