The Polo Lady Panthers had yet another strong offensive night, bouncing back well from a two-run loss to GRC-leading Maysville in a 10-5 victory at Milan’s Legion Field, improving Polo to 4-1 in conference competition, one game back of the Wolverines.
Polo’s offense struck early, with a run-scoring triple by Chloe Gilbert in the top of the first inning. Milan tied the contest in the bottom of the first on a fielder’s choice grounder by Kyla White, only to see Polo respond in the second, grabbing back the lead with the help of a Milan fielding error, with two runs making the score 3-1.
The Panthers scored three times in the fourth inning, with Gilbert and Jade Misel providing RBI hits, and put the game away with an insurance run in the sixth inning, with Hanna Vaught’s triple driving in a run.
Milan’s offense, which had been generally dormant in GRC games so far this year, showed promise in the loss. The Lady ‘Cats had a sixth inning run score on a double off the bat of Gracie Dickson. The biggest blow of the game for Milan was a three-run homer from Cady Pauley in the fifth inning.
Mallory Clevenger got the start for Polo, and scattered eight hits and five runs over seven innings, adding six strikeouts for the win.
Gilbert was 3-for-5 for Polo, with Cierra Stigger adding three stolen bases, as Polo had eight steals as a team. Pauley was 3-for-4 to lead the offense for the Lady ‘Cats.
In HDC Conference softball action from Wednesday, Tri-County scored the first two runs of their game against North Harrison, but the powerhouse Shamrocks responded strongly, scoring the final 17 of the game, winning 17-2 and improving to 8-1 on the season.
