Above, Kristen Woyt rounds first base and heads for second during her RBI double in the third-inning to get the Lady Panthers back in the game. At right, pitcher Bri Kirkland gets some encouragement from head coach Shelly Ritch after a three-up, threedown inning for the Lady Panthers defense. BULLARD – The first district win for the Lady Panthers could not have had much more drama, as Bullard topped Gilmer 4-3 in District 17-3A softball play last week at Lady Panther Field.

Down 2-0 in the third inning, an RBI double by Kristen Woyt got the Lady Panthers rolling in the third inning, to tie the game at 2-2.

Both teams exchanged unearned runs in the fourth inning on errors, to make it 3-3 before the final inning heroics by Roberts, Kirkland and Gwartney at the plate.

Bullard’s Valarie Roberts laid-down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Bri Kirkland with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The rally began as Kirkland placed a bunt down that turned into an infield hit. Ashley Gwartney then laced a ball to the shortstop, after which no play was made to any base.

(Banner Staff Photos by Doc Smith) A passed ball moved the runners to third and second, before Roberts executed the perfect bunt at the perfect time for the win..

“We love to play small ball, and Valarie (Roberts) did a great job of putting the ball in play and leaving them with no play at all,” said a happy second year head coach at Bullard, Shelly Ritch.

After a loss to Tatum last Friday night, the Lady Bears of Gladewater played on Tuesday, and for the story see this edition.

The Lady Panthers entertain Chapel Hill on Friday with 5:30 set for the start time.

District 17-3A Softball

at Lady Panther Field

Gilmer 101 100 0 - 3 7 2

Bullard 002 100 1 - 4 6 1 Keen and Donaho. Kirkland and Foreman. W - Kirkland. L - Keen. 2B- G: Keen. B: Kirkland, Kristen Woyt..

RECORDS - Gilmer 1-2. Bullard 3-2, 1-2.

NEXT UP - Bullard at Tatum, Fri., 5:30 p.m.