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By TYLER RALEY | Special to the Reporter

PELHAM – The Pelham Panthers used a big offensive performance to pick up their 20th win of the season on Thursday, April 18, over the West Blocton Tigers at Pelham High School.

The victory was made possible by a seven-run fourth inning surge, which helped the Panthers in going out on top 8-2.

Pelham got the scoring going early in the game with a two-out rally in the first inning. After a ground out and a line out began the frame, Jordan Howard got the team’s first base runner on with a ground ball that resulted in an error.

After Shelby-Grace Bailey drew a walk following the error, Jordan Young put a single into center field to bring home Howard, putting the Panthers up 1-0.

A quiet second and third innings followed before the offensive party got going for Pelham.

Following a strikeout to lead off the bottom of the fourth, McKenzie Little reached on an error from a ground ball to the third base side. Rebecca Roy followed that up with a single into left field, putting two runners on with one out.

Emery Plunkett made the first bit of big noise, though, when she hit a bases-clearing double into left field, making the score 3-0 favoring Pelham.

A ground out advanced Plunkett to third before Jessica Gray hit a ground ball that resulted in an error, which allowed her to score, pushing the lead to four.

Another error on a ground ball hit by Gray put runners at the corners, setting up Bailey to hit an infield single to the pitcher, loading the bases for the Panthers.

Young then came up and sent a single into center field, scoring two more runs for Pelham and extending the score to 6-0.

That put Taylor Howard at the plate, who hit a pop fly that resulted in yet another West Blocton error. This let the Panthers put two more runs up on the board and have a full grip on this contest, leading 8-0.

The damage was done, putting the Tigers in an uncomfortable place for the rest of the game.

There were no more runs put up on the scoreboard until the top of the seventh inning, when West Blocton made one push to get back in it.

After Makynli Kidd hit a line drive single to lead off the Tiger offense, Lillie Shadwick came up later in the inning with one out and hit a home run to center field, cutting the score to 8-2.

Kimora Harrell stepped up to the plate to follow the long ball and hit a double into left field, giving her team some life. That was all that West Blocton could do though as two pop outs ended the game right after that.

Young got the win in the circle for Pelham, pitching magnificently on the day. She worked for five full innings and gave up no runs on just one hit. She also struck out six and walked one in her outing.

Young also had the best day at the plate, as well, racking up two hits and three RBIs, becoming a big source of production for her team.

The Panthers will look to improve on this win after jumping to 20-11 on the season. Their next opportunity puts them on the road to face the Mountain Brook Spartans on Monday, April 22. First pitch in this game is set for 5 p.m.