In a rivalry matchup Wednesday evening at Tanner Park Softball Field, the Pana Panthers held off a late surge from the Pawnee Indians to secure a narrow 6–5 victory in a game that quickly turned from comfortable to intense.
With Joey Laker leading the way in the circle and consistent contact at the plate, Pana built an early lead—but Pawnee made sure the outcome wouldn’t come easy.
Early Innings Set the Tone
Both teams found early opportunities in the first inning, each placing a runner on base but failing to convert. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the second, when Pana broke through.
Jolianna Morrison put the Panthers on the board with a ground ball that turned into a costly Pawnee error. Morrison reached safely and drove in two runs, giving Pana a 2–0 lead, though she was left stranded by the end of the inning.
Panthers Build a Lead
Pana extended its advantage in the third inning. With runners on first and second, Adrianne Perry delivered a ground ball and reached base while bringing in another run, pushing the lead to 3–0.
The Panthers kept the momentum going in the fourth inning with a string of productive at-bats. Kennedy Bowker sparked the rally with a triple to right field, driving in a run. Bella Bennet followed with a pop fly to left that resulted in an error, allowing Bowker to score.
Joey Laker then helped her own cause with a double, advancing Bennet to third. Bri Mathis added a sacrifice fly, bringing Bennet home after she tagged up. By the end of the inning, Pana had built a commanding 6–0 lead.
Pawnee Fights Back
The game took a dramatic turn in the fifth inning. Pawnee’s offense came alive, finding gaps and stringing together hits to put pressure on the Panthers.
The Indians placed six runners on base in the inning and capitalized, scoring five runs before Pana could stop the rally. Suddenly, what had been a comfortable lead was cut to just one run, with Pana holding a 6–5 advantage.
Pana, however, was unable to respond offensively in the bottom half of the inning, keeping the pressure firmly in place heading into the final frames.
Panthers Hold On
With momentum shifting, the final innings became a defensive battle. Pawnee looked to complete the comeback, but Pana held strong on its home field, shutting down further scoring opportunities.
After a tense finish, the Panthers secured the win, closing out the game with a 6–5 final score.
What began as a dominant performance for Pana quickly turned into a nail-biter, but the Panthers’ early scoring and late-game composure proved just enough to outlast a determined Pawnee squad.
Coach Karnes Post Game Interview
Joey Laker Post Game Interview
Joey Laker with a Double to Left Field
Kennedey Bowker and Bella Bennet making the Force Out at 2nd
Jolianna Morrison Hits a Single an Double RBI
