The magical season for the Pampa Lady Harvesters continues as they swept Burkburnett in the Regional Semi-Finals by scores of 6-2 and 8-1. Both games were played at Frenship High School. Pampa will now advance to the Regional Finals for the first time since 2014. In 2014, Pampa was in class 3A, so this will be the first time in school history to advance to the Regional Semi-Finals in class 4A. There are only eight teams left in the state in class 4A.
Last season, Burkburnett defeated Pampa in the Regional Semi-Finals in three games, so this was an opportunity for Pampa to exact some revenge.
GAME ONE
Because of heavy rain in the Lubbock area, game one was moved from Thursday to Friday. In front of an energized crowd, Pampa would take control in the bottom of the second inning. Briley Daniels led off with single and would steal second. Kassie Arnzen then reached on an infield single putting runners at first and second. Cambree Dyer then laid down a sacrifice bunt, which scored Daniels from second base and advanced Arnzen to third. Cassidy Stanhope then singled to right field scoring Arnzen.
Burk would add a run in the top of the third, but Pampa would add three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Carsyn Hunt would lead off with a walk and would steal second base. McKinley Daniels had a bunt single, and the throw got away from the first baseman, which allowed Hunt to scored and Daniels to advance to second. Briley Daniels then doubled scoring McKinley. Briley would score on a single by Arnzen.
Pampa would add an insurance run in the fifth inning when Arnzen led off with a single and took second on a wild pitch. Dyer would then reach on an error that allowed Arnzen to score. Burk would add a run in the top of the sixth, but Pampa would shut them down the rest of the way and take game one by a score of 6-2.
Arnzen led the way going 3-3, Briley Daniels added two hits for Pampa and McKinley Daniels, Stanhope, Maecie Hawthorne, and Gonzalez each added a hit for Pampa. The Lady Harvesters were also 3-3 on stolen base attempts.
Kirby went the distance in the circle and continued her dominance. Kirby pitched seven innings, giving up two runs and six hits, striking out nine and walking two. Pampa’s defense was also perfect on the night with no errors.
GAME TWO
Game two started at noon on Saturday and Pampa jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead. Carsyn Hunt led off the game with a double down the left field line. Hunt would then take third base on a passed ball. With two outs, Briley Daniels struck out, but reached first on a dropped third strike. Hunt would score on the throw to first base. Kassie Arnzen then singled to right field allowing Daniels to advance to third. Arnzen alertly took second on the throw and then Daniels scored when Burk tried to throw to second base to get Arnzen. At the end of the top of the first, Pampa would lead 2-0.
Burk would score one in the first, but Pampa responded in the top of the second inning, when Sophomore Karina Gonzalez hit a monster home run to center field.
Pampa would continue the offensive onslaught in the third inning. Kynleigh Kirby would hit an infield single but would circle the bases as the throw got away from the first baseman. Briley Daniels would then double. Arnzen then flew out to right field, however the right fielder, thinking Daniels was tagging up at second launched a throw into the dugout, allowing Daniels to score from second base. At the end of three Pampa held a 5-1 lead.
No more runs would be scored until the top of the seventh. Gonalez led off the inning with her second home run of the game, a long solo blast to left center field. Hunt would then single, steal second and advance to third on a bunt single by McKinley Daniels. Daniels would take second base putting runners at second and third. Hunt would score on a ground out by Kirby and Daniels would advance to third on the same play. Briley Daniels would then double to right center scoring McKinley, giving Pampa an 8-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.
Burk would get two runners on in the bottom of the inning, but would be unable to score, giving Pampa the championship by a score of 8-1.
Karina Gonzalez led the team going 2-3, with two home runs. Carsyn Hunt, Kynleigh Kirby, and Briley Daniels each had two hits, while McKinley Daniels and Kassie Arnzen added one hit each. Pampa was once again 3-3 on stolen bases.
Kirby notched the win for Pampa, going seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out six and walking four. Pampa’s defense again committed no errors.
With the win, Pampa advances to the Regional Finals to take on District 7-4A champions, Sanger. Sanger defeated the Dumas Demonettes in three games this past weekend. The winner of the Pampa/Sanger series will advance to the state tournament in Austin next weekend.
Game one is set for Wednesday at 7:00, Game two Thursday at 1:00 and, if necessary, Game 3 will be Friday at 7:00. All games are scheduled to be played at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. If you cannot attend, you can watch and listen on YouTube at Harvester Sports Network.
