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Lady Panthers comeback falls just short against Lebanon




PORTLAND – Despite five home runs against the district’s top team, Portland could not overcome a six-run outburst from Lebanon in the fifth inning, as the Lady Panthers fell 11-9 to the unbeaten Devilettes.

The loss drops Portland to 4-6 in district play and fifth in the standings, but with four more district games remaining, the Lady Panthers have a shot at moving to as high as third place before the District 9-AAA tournament starts on May 7.

Down 11-5 in the final inning, Portland scored four runs to cut the deficit to two, but three-straight outs from the Lebanon defense put an end to any comeback hopes.

“We played fairly well,” Panther coach Vanessa Tomlinson said. “We had a couple errors that cost us just like when we played them last time.”

Baleigh Bennett (two), Sami Parker, Lexe Conyer and Mac Fitzgerald all hit dingers with back-to-back jacks coming in the seventh inning.

“I really do feel like the girls fought at the end to comeback,” Tomlinson said. “We just couldn’t overcome their fifth inning explosion.”

As of now, Portland sits at 14-15 on the season and fifth place in the district with Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, Beech and Station Camp all in front of the Lady Panthers.

“I feel like we are coming along and if we don’t accomplish our goals this season next year definitely,” Tomlinson said of the season. “We’ve done really well all year. Injuries have hurt us, but girls have stepped up and helped us along the way. We are just continuing from last year and doing good things. We are just trying to get better.”

Despite taking the loss in the circle, Mac Fitzgerald continues to be the leader Tomlinson wants out of her.

“Mac is still doing well,” she said. “We are still dependent on her to be the leader out there. It’s getting down to the end and she has pitched a lot of innings for us and still doing well. We will need her moving forward.”

The Lady Panthers will play all four remaining district games this week, starting Monday, April 30 with a trip to Station Camp, followed by Senior Night against Gallatin on May 2. Portland will close out the district schedule with back-to-back home games May 3 and May 4 against Mt. Juliet and Wilson Central.

“We just need to continue to hit the ball,” Tomlinson said. “Our defense can play well and keep up with anyone. We just need to keep hitting the ball, choose the right pitches to hit and don’t get too anxious at the plate. I think we will do well, they are hitting well. We’ve scored a whole lot of runs this season and if we continue to keep up then we should do we want we want.”

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