After a hard fought three game series against Monahans, The Pampa Lady Harvesters travelled south to Andrews, TX to face off against the Clint Lions in the Area Championship best of three series. Clint came into this series as the two seed out of District 2-4A, and Pampa the four seed out of district 4-4A. Pampa disposed of the district 3-4A Champions, Monahans last weekend.
This series would be very stress free for Pampa as they demolished Clint in game one by a score of 18-1 on Friday evening and then completed the sweep Saturday morning by a score of 14-2. Pampa would outscore Clint by a combined score of 34-3 in the series.
With the wind blowing in for Game one, Pampa would score nine runs in the second inning, four runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and four more in the fifth.
Pampa cranked out sixteen base hits in the game. Carsyn Hunt went 1-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, McKinley Daniels was 1-2 for two runs scored, Brianna Cloud was 3-4 with three RBI’s and a run scored, Kynleigh Kirby was 3-3, with two RBI’s, Maecie Hawthorne was 1-3 and two runs scored, Hallie Hawthorne was 1-1 with three RBI’s and two runs scored, Reagan Dyer scored a run, Karina Gonzalez was 3-4 with two RBI’s and two runs scored, Briley Daniels was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Cambree Dyer was 1-2 with a run scored.
Kirby pitched all five innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits, striking out seven and walking six.
Saturday morning, the winds were calm, and Pampa got the big sticks out against Clint. Kynleigh Kirby led the way with two home runs and a double with six RBI’s and three runs scored. Hallie Hawthorne followed that up with two home runs, three RBI’s and two runs scored. Senior Reagan Dyer also hit a solo home run and a single, with one RBI and two runs scored. Carsyn Hunt scored a run, Mckinley Daniels was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, Brianna Cloud was 1-2, with two runs scored, Maecie Hawthorne was 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Cassidy Stanhope scored a run for Pampa as well.
Hallie Hawthorne went the distance in the circle for Pampa, going five innings, giving up two unearned runs on three hits while striking out nine with no walks.
For the second consecutive year, Pampa is the Area Champs. With the win over Clint, coupled with Canyon’s sweep of Fabens, it sets up a District 4-4A rematch between Pampa and Canyon for the Regional Quarterfinal Championship this coming week.
In other district 4-4A action, Dumas swept San Elizario 12-2 and 12-0. Randall swept El Paso Riverside 11-2 and 12-3, and Canyon swept passed Fabens 16-0 and 22-4. All in all, district 4-4A outscored their opponents by a combined score of 126-14 in the area round.
With the sweep, rematches are set between Pampa and Canyon, and Dumas and Randall will battle for a chance to get to the Regional Semi Finals. Earlier this season Canyon swept Pampa by scores of 6-2 in Canyon and 2-1 in Pampa. Dumas and Randall split their series this year, with Dumas winning at Randall by a score of 3-2, and then Randall winning at Dumas by a score of 8-6.
The winner of the Pampa/Canyon series will play the winner of Krum/Burkburnett in the Regional Semi Finals. The winner of the Dumas/Randall series will play the winner of Decatur/Graham or Sanger. The Graham/Sanger series was not finished at press time.
The Dumas/Randall series will be played Thursday and Friday and that will be a home and home series. A coin flip will decide who gets game one, and who gets games two and three.
Pampa will play Canyon at West Plains High School on Thursday at 5:00.
Game 2 will be Friday at Canadian High School at 5:00. Updates to follow.
