Bullard pitcher, Ashley Gwartney is shown here in full stride making her delivery to the plate against Spring Hill. (Banner Staff Photo by Doc Smith) BULLARD – The Lady Panthers softball team got off to a rough start in defense of three-straight district titles, losing 13-2 to Spring Hill at Lady Panther field last Friday.

It took four runs in the first inning by Spring Hill and three more in the second inning, before the Lady Panthers settled down defensively. At the plate, Bullard had seven hits, with one double by Ashlee Shidler that accounted for the two Bullard runs in the game.

Spring Hill tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning, before a threerun homerun by Spring Hill put the ten-run rule over Bullard’s last at bat. Bri Kirkland, Chelsea Foreman and Kristen Woyt each went 2-for-3 at the plate.

“I’m really proud of the girls and the enthusiasm they are still playing the game with,” said head coach Shelly Ritch. “We hit the ball really well, we just had too many balls that we hit right to them, and Spring Hill is a very good team.

“Spring Hill is just not going to make too many mistakes, and we had a few errors that really hurt us, but as long as they are giving it 100 percent, that’s all I can ask,” Ritch added.

“We have had a few players struggle a little bit early on, too, that hasn’t helped, but they are starting to come out of it and hit the ball the way I know they are capable of.”

Spring HIll came out swinging and posted the early 4-0 lead, before Bullard touched a bat.

The first time through the Bullard line-up, the Lady Panthers were still looking for their first hit, until Bri Kirkland opened things up in the third inning, with one of her two hits in the game.

Kirland was also cited by Coach Ritch for some great defensive plays,as well as third baseman, Valarie Roberts.

Shidler double-plated Foreman and Kristen Beam for the late Lady Panthers runs.

The Lady Panthers will have played Gilmer at home, after press deadline. Bullard travels to play in Tatum on Friday ,with first-pitch set for 6 p.m.