Coming off a record setting season in 2024, the Lady Harvester Softball team kicked off the softball season last week by hosting Dalhart and then traveling to Carrollton to participate in the Tournament of Champions tournament.
On Monday, the Pampa hosted Dalhart in the season opener and came away with a 17-6 victory. Pampa scored early and often, scoring four runs in the first inning, five runs in the second inning, one run in the third inning, three runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth.
Carsyn Hunt, McKinley Daniels, Ella Hudson, Maecie Hawthorne, Michelle Gallegos each had two hits for Pampa and Myla Zarate and Claire Hall added a hit for the Lady Harvesters. Michelle Gallegos went the distance in the circle, pitching five innings. Michelle gave up six runs (only three of them earned), seven hits, striking out five and walking one.
On Thursday, Pampa would take on Wichita Falls Memorial in game one of pool play. Pampa would score one run in the second and three in the third for a 4-1 win. McKinley Daniels and Kassie Arnzen each had two hits, Carsyn Hunt and Maecie Hawthorne added base hits for Pampa. Pampa’s defense was solid, turning a 4-6-3 double play to end the game (Hunt, Stanhope to Hawthorne).
Michelle Gallegos earned the win in the circle, pitching four innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits, striking out one and walking two.
The next pool play game would be against the Grand Prairie Lady Gophers, and it was all Pampa from the start. Pampa would rack up eight runs in the first inning and five in the second inning to earn a 13-1 victory. McKinley Daniels added two hits, Maecie Hawthorne blasted her first home of the season, Cassidy Stanhope, Kassie Arnzen, and Kinley Duke added hits also.
Hallie Reynolds earned the win, going two innings, giving up one unearned run on one hit, striking out two and walking two.
On Friday, Pampa would play Woodrow Wilson High School, and the winning ways would continue as they picked up a 6-0 win. Carsyn Hunt, McKinley Daniels, Kassie Arnzen, Michelle Gallegos, and Myla Zarate each had a hit for the Lady Harvesters.
Hallie Reynolds earned her second win of the tournament by going four innings, giving up no runs on two hits, striking out two and walking one.
In the afternoon game, Pampa would play in the final pool play game against previously unbeaten Scurry-Rossiter. Pampa would win 6-0 and earn the top seed in their pool. McKinley Daniels, Kassie Arnzen, Michelle Gallegos, Myla Zarate, and Kinley Duke each had hits for Pampa.
Michelle Gallegos earned the win, pitching three innings, giving up no runs on three hits, striking our one and walking none.
On Saturday, Pampa would face off against RL Turner High School in the first bracket game. Pampa would break open a close game by scoring six runs in the fourth inning, the big blow being an inside the park grand slam by McKinley Daniels. Kassie Arnzen had two hits for Pampa, while Carsyn Hunt, Daniels, Myla Zarate and Kinley Duke added hits for Pampa. Cassidy Stanhope blasted her first home of the season for the Lady Harvester as well.
Hallie Reynolds earned the win, going four innings, giving up one run on four hits, striking out two and walking two. With the win Pampa would advance to the semifinals to take on unbeaten Frisco Panther Creek. In an ironic twist, Panther Creek is coached by former Lady Harvester coach and Dottie Hawthorne’s sister, Randi Hamilton.
Panther Creek scored five runs in the first, six in the second and added three in the third to advance to the finals with a 14-5 win over Pampa.
McKinly Daniels, Michelle Gallegos and Hallie Reynolds each had hits for Pampa.
Michelle Gallegos picked up the loss, giving up eleven runs on two hits, striking out two and walking three. Hallie Reynolds pitched one inning, giving up three runs on two hits, striking out one and walking one.
Panther Creek would eventually lose the championship game to Odessa Permian.
Pampa will be back in action on Friday as they travel to San Angelo to play in the Concho Classic. The Lady Harvesters will take on Greenwood at 10:30 on Friday morning and Lubbock High at 3:00 PM and defending 3A State champion, Coahoma at 4:30. Bracket play will start Saturday.
Those games will be broadcasted on Harvester Sports Network on YouTube.
Pampa is 6-1 on the young season. District play will start on Tuesday March 4th when the team hosts the Canyon Lady Eagles.
