The Jackson County Lady Panther slow pitch softball team wrapped up their season with a fifth place finish in state competition this past Saturday.
The Lady Panthers opened up tournament play against McEachern, losing 9-5 after trailing by only one run in the sixth.
Coach Clarke Rainwater said his team played very well against a team that had defeated the Lady Panthers 19-2 just a month ago.
“A hit here or there and 1 or 2 less errors and we could have won,” he said. “We trailed 5-4 in the sixth and misplayed a couple of hits and throws allowing the Lady Indians to score 4 in the seventh, while we could only score 1 in our last at bat.”
Jackson County then turned around and spanked Walton 17-2 in a game that went only four innings, with all of the Lady Panthers getting at least one hit in the game.
Dana Burzo hit a grand slam in the third. Ladonna Whisnant also cleared the bases with a double in the third that scored three RBIs.
Next up was a pairing with Hillgrove that ended the Lady Panthers’ season, as the Lady Hawks won 11-1.
Hillgrove would go on to finish second in the state.
“Our team got better and better as the season went on,” Rainwater said.
Jackson County finished 16-13 for the year after a 1-4 start.
“We have 14 of the 15 girls coming back next year if they choose to play again,” Rainwater said. Among the players Rainwater said performed well at state were Kristina Galbaugh, who went 6-10 with a double at leadoff; Kristin Carter, who went 4-9 with five RBIs; Ladonna Whisnant went 3-6 with three RBIs and a double; Sydney Kastner went 4-8 with a double; Dana Burzo went 4-8 with four RBIs, a double, and a homerun; Jessica Stevens went 4-8 with two RBIs, and a double; and Angela Edge went 5-9 with five RBIs and two doubles.
Burzo also had excellent pitching performances in all three games, Rainwater said.
“The girls had a great season as was evidenced by many comments from the fans and coaches of other teams telling the girls how much they improved,” he said.
“We are already looking forward to next year.”
