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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

PLEASANT GROVE – The Pelham Panthers got to work early and pulled away for the win as they defeated the Pleasant Grove Spartans 9-1 on Thursday, April 4 at Pleasant Grove High School.

Pelham overcame an early strikeout to put runners on the corners with a Shelby Grace Bailey double and a walk. While the Panthers couldn’t score on the ensuing at-bat because of a pop-up, Rebecca Roy drew a walk to load up the bases.

The next pitch went awry for Pleasant Grove and brought a runner home to put Pelham up 1-0.

The second and third innings came and went without a run as both teams settled into the game on defense.

After a pair of strikeouts by Jordan Young to end the third, she came up to the plate to start the fourth and walked.

Roy reached base off an error after she bunted two pitches later, but she came all the way home to join Young at home plate and extend the lead to 3-0.

The Spartans then got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame after hitting an RBI single following a walk and an error to start their turn at the plate.

The 3-1 score line held through the fifth inning before Roy and Taylor Howard kicked off the sixth with back-to-back singles.

McKenzie Little and Jessica Gray brought both runners home as each plated a run with a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 5-1.

The next inning, Laini Stewart started the action back up with a lead-off single.

While the next batter popped out, a Jordan Howard single and a Young walk loaded up the bases. That allowed the Panthers to score another run after Roy walked with the base paths filled.

Pleasant Grove took a strikeout and reduced Little to an 0-2 count to get a pitch away from ending the inning, but she worked the count back on the next four pitches to take a walk and make the score 7-2.

Gray then closed out the 9-1 win with a two-run double off a hard ground ball to right field. She finished the day with a team-high three RBI.

Young earned the win with seven strikeouts in five innings. She didn’t allow an earned run and worked her way around an unearned run, two hits and two walks before Little came in for two perfect innings of relief.

After a break from area play, Pelham will return to area action with a road battle against rival Helena on Monday, April 8 at 5 p.m.