The Pampa Lady Harvesters historic playoff run ended with two heartbreaking losses to Sanger in the Region One Finals this past week. This was the first time in program history to make it the Regional Finals in class 4A. In 2014, Pampa made it to this round in class 3A. Sanger won game one 2-0 and game two 4-3 in extra innings. Both games were played at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.
GAME ONE
Game One was played Wednesday night, in front of crowd of over five hundred people. Pampa would struggle throughout the game getting any kind of rally going. Sanger would strike first in the top of the first with a lead off walk, a stolen base and two sacrifice flies to put a run across the board. Although Pampa would get five runners on base throughout the game, they never managed to get anyone past second base.
Sanger would score on insurance run in the top the seventh to take a 2-0 lead and would hold on for a game one victory over Pampa.
Offensively, Pampa only managed two hits, singles by Kassie Arnzen and Cassidy Stanhope. Cambree Dyer would reach on an error and Carsyn Hunt and Maecie Hawthorne were hit by pitches.
In the circle, Pampa Senior, Kynleigh Kirby was stellar. She pitched seven innings, giving up two runs. Kirby only allowed one hit, a seventh inning double. She struck out three and walked four. Pampa’s defense was also stellar, committing no errors.
GAME TWO
With the season on the line in game two it was Pampa that came out swinging first. In the top of the second, Cambree Dyer reached on a one-out single. Haili Newton would come into courtesy run and would take second base on a passed ball. Karina Gonzalez would then single to left center field scoring Newton from second base.
In the top of the third, Kynleigh Kirby would deliver a long solo home run to left field giving Pampa a 2-0 lead. However, Sanger would tie the games on a two-run home run by Abby Chapmond.
The score would remain tied at two, until the top of the fifth, when McKinley Daniels hit an inside the park home run down the left field line, giving Pampa a 3-2 lead.
Sanger would tie the game in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh Sanger loaded the bases with one out. However, they would be unable to score, and the game would go to extra innings.
Pampa went three up three down in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth, Leala Klower led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. Piper Landlau then doubled putting runners at second and third base with one out. Sopia Troegle then laid down a 1-1 pitch for a perfectly executed squeeze play giving Sanger the win and a trip to Austin for the state tournament. Sanger will face the winner of Liberty and Bullard. At press time, Liberty holds a 1-0 advantage.
Offensively for Pampa in game two Kirby and Dyer each had two hits to lead the way. McKinley Daniels, Briley Daniels, and Karina Gonzalez each add one hit for Pampa.
Kirby, in her final appearance in the green and gold, went seven plus innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, while striking out five and walking three. Kirby ender her stellar career with over 770 strikeouts for the Lady Harvesters.
The Lady Harvester players, coaches, and parents would like to thank the city of Pampa for the outpouring of support during this amazing playoff run.
