Lady Panthers beat Fordland in districts

The Mountain Grove Lady Panthers’ softball team opened the Class 2, District 4 Tournament last week on their home field with an 18-3 victory over Fordland. The Lady Panthers scored five runs or more in three different innings with the help of an 18-hit attack.
Lyla Golden finished with four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored; Hannah Dowden had three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored; Chloe Slagle had one RBI and scored three times; Payton O’Connor had three RBIs and scored twice; Briley Curtiss had two RBIs and two runs scored; Leah Broome added two RBIs and one run scored; Aubrie Gerla had one RBI and scored twice; and Gabby Miller scored twice.
On the mound, Dowden tossed four innings and gave up no earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Just after press time, the Lady Panthers took on Ava in the district semifinals.
A win would put them in the district finals at  p.m. on May 12 against either Thayer or Willow Springs. (Information on Mountain Grove’s 5-1 loss to Mansfield appears in the Lady Lions’ article.)