Coming off a Gold Bracket championship in San Angelo, Pampa would return to the panhandle and take on the Caprock Lady Longhorns in Amarillo in the final non-district game of the season.
Pampa would strike first in the top of the first inning, when Sophomore Cassidy Stanhope hit a solo home run to left field. It was Stanhope’s second home of the young season for the Lady Harvesters. The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the third.
In the third, Sophomore, Briley Daniels would lead off by reaching on error, McKinley Daniels would draw a walk to put runners on first and second. Sophomore Carsyn Hunt then blasted an 0-2 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer. It was Hunt’s first career home run. At the end of the top of the third, Pampa led 4-0.
Caprock would score 2 in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 4-2 Pampa after three innings.
In the fourth inning, Pampa would go three up and three down, and Caprock would add a run to cut the lead to 4-3.
In the top of the fifth, Pampa would break the game open by scoring five runs. McKinley Daniels led off with a double to left field, Hunt would reach on an infield single. Sophomore, Brianna Cloud, would single with a line drive off the pitcher’s glove, to score Daniels from third. A double steal advanced Hunt to third and Cloud to second. Junior, Kynleigh Kirby would then line an 0-2 pitch high over the right field wall for a three-run homer. It was Kirby’s second home run of the season, and gave Pampa an 8-3 lead. Senior, Hallie Hawthorne, would then get hit by a pitch, would advance to second on a passed ball, and would eventually score when Senior, Reagan Dyer singled to left field. At the end of five innings, it was Pampa 9 and Caprock 3.
In the top of sixth, Pampa would add three insurance runs. McKinley Daniels reached on infield single and Hunt would reach safely on a bunt. Cloud would then single to right field. Daniels would score on a throwing error and Hunt would also score on the same play as Cloud hustled to third. Cloud would eventually score on a wild pitch, making the score 12-3. Caprock would go quietly in the bottom of the sixth.
Pampa would add one final run in the top of the seventh. Briley Daniels would reach on an error, McKinley Daniels would reach on an infield single, advancing Briley to third base. Hunt would then score Daniels from third on a ground ball back to the pitcher that the pitcher was unable to handle.
Caprock would add two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally would end there. Pampa claiming a 13-5 win over their District 3-5A opponent.
Kynleigh Kirby pitched all seven innings, giving up five runs on six hits, striking out 14 and walking three. Pampa cranked out eleven hits, including three home runs and the defense was solid committing no errors.
Pampa will start district 4-4A play next Tuesday, March 7th as they take on the West Plains Lady Wolves in Amarillo.
