Paola holds on in opener, rolls Tigers in nightcap

Fort Scott shortstop Bailie Brown fields a high throw as Paola's Matti Morgan steals second base during the first game of a doubleheader at Don Hewett Field. The visiting Panthers held off the Tigers in game one 9-8 and took game two in a run-rule verdict 13-3. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

It was a tough night for Fort Scott High School softball as a first-game rally fell short and visiting Paola dominated the second game of a doubleheader at Don Hewett Field Thursday in their last home games of the season.

The Tigers (13-4) fell in game one, 9-8, despite a 5-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Panthers (13-3) scored 7 runs in the first inning of the second game and went on to win 13-3 in five innings.

"Credit goes to Paola," Fort Scott interim head coach Karen Curran said. "They were hitting the ball hard and they were hitting it in the gaps. We misplayed some balls and we gave them some extra bases they didn't deserve."

The Panthers scored a single run in the first inning in the opener and added 3 in the second as they were hitting line drives to the outfield and finding the gaps in the infield defense.

Though Fort Scott scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, Paola threatened the tear the game open with 5 runs in the top of the fifth.

The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of that inning. Taylor Krokroskia walked with one out and went on to score on a sacrifice fly by Karlee Stanley. Abi Keating reached on an error and went on to score on another error on Bailie Brown's grounder.

"The girls never felt they were out of the ball game," Curran said. "And I just have to love that attitude."

Abury Ard walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Katie Gorman doubled to center. Krokroskia reached base on an error, loading the bases.

Ard scored on a wild pitch and the other runners moved up. Pitcher Kyenne Wade singled to cener, scoring Gorman. Emily Bowman reached on a 2-out error, which allowed Krokroskia to score. That brought the Tigers within 9-6.

Brown came up and hit a ball to center field. Jenny Denton, courtesy running for Wade, and Bowman scored on the play but Paola's defense threw Brown out at third to end the game.

"The first game, I felt like we just ran out of time," Curran said. "We were making our move. We just needed one more at-bat or one more out to play with and we would have had a favorable outcome."

Gorman was 3 for 4 for the Tigers, who had 7 hits as a team. Allison Daggett, Matti Morgan and Peyton Weatherbie had 2 hits each for Paola.

The Panthers cranked out 7 hits in a 10-batter first inning in the second game. They scored in every inning, putting up a 3 spot in the fourth.

The Tigers tried to get back in the game but Paola pitcher Jordan Johnson was just too strong. She allowed just 4 hits and walked 3 batters while striking out 7.

Krokroskia scored for the Tigers in the first when Paola misplayed a Keating bunt. She also scored in the third along with Wade on Stanley's double. But Jordan held the Tigers to one hit in the final two innings.

Mallory Gilliland was 4 for 4 for Paola, driving in 4 runs. Daggett and Morgan were each 2 for 3.

Despite the loss, Curran learned a lot about the squad she inherited almost 2 1/2 weeks ago, citing defensive plays made by Keating at third base, Meghan Guss at first and Emily Hale in right field on effort that would have been easy not to give in a game that had such a wide margin so early.

"It would have been easy for the to just go through the motions," Curran said. "But they don't have that kind of attitude.

"It tells me a lot. We're making progress to become the kind of ballclub that can hang with anybody. You can't just say it and make it happen; you have to go out and prove it. But we're getting closer to that."

The Tigers have 10 days off before going to Girard for a make-up doubleheader at 4 p.m. on May 11. The games were originally scheduled for April 2 and were rained out again on April 17.

NOTES -- The 1990 Tiger softball team was honored between games. This is the 25th anniversary season for the program, which has won 296 games, six Southeast Kansas League championships, four Regional crowns and a State championship.

A photograph of the 1990 team, which went 12-7 that first year, will run in a future edition....

Game One

Fort Scott.......... 000 210 5 -- 8 7 2

WP -- McMillin. LP -- Wade (13-3).

HR -- None.

Game Two

Fort Scott.......... 102 00x x -- 3 4 2

WP -- J.Johnson. LP -- Wade (14-3).

HR -- None.