SPRING GARDEN – One of the things Spring Garden senior shortstop Neely Welsh had on her softball bucket list was hitting a home run over the Lady Panthers’ softball batting facility in left field.
She can definitely check that off now.
Welsh crushed a Natalie Baty offering that bounced off the roof in the bottom of the third inning for a three-run homer. She also doubled in a run as part of a 10-run first inning, and was intentionally walked in the second of the Lady Panthers’ 14-1 win over Cedar Bluff in five innings on Monday.
It was the second time in four days Welsh had a big day at the plate against the Lady Tigers. She drove in all three runs in the Lady Panthers’ 3-1 win at Cedar Bluff on Thursday.
Welsh’s homer on Monday – her sixth of the season – came after she booted a ball in the field in the top of the second inning.
She more than made up for the error.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the cleanest fielder in the field, but I guess I’m just used to kind of rubbing those off after I make them,” Welsh said. “I didn’t sweat it much. I think it’s just one of those things where you’ve got to come back and recover from what you did in the field, punch them right back in the mouth.”
The Lady Panthers (14-10) had plenty of punch after Cedar Bluff (17-8-2)took a 1-0 lead on a throwing error in the top of the first. They sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, chasing starting pitcher Reece Patterson after just 2/3 of an inning.
Kayley Kirk and Welsh both doubled in single runs in the inning. Layla Ingram added a two-run infield single and later scored on a wild pitch. Avery Steward walked and singled in a run in the inning.
After Welsh was intentionally walked to load the bases, senior pitcher Abbey Steward delivered a three-run double with two outs off of reliever Baty to put Spring Garden up 10-1 after just an inning.
“I’m just glad they came back and got that run back,” Spring Garden coach Ann Welsh said. “We just had back-to-back hits in the box. We haven’t hit like that in a while. I was proud of that.
“We just kind of got in a rhythm there. Everybody was smacking it.”
Spring Garden scored three more runs in the bottom of the third on Neely Welsh’s deep shot to left and scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth for the final.
Abbey Steward picked up the win in the circle. She tossed all five innings, giving up an unearned run on three hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
“She hadn’t pitched all weekend (at a tournament in Albertville), so I know she was ready to pitch,” Coach Welsh said. “Her arm felt good tonight. I’m proud of that.”
Patterson posted a pair of singles for the Lady Tigers. Baty also added a single. Mattie Payne walked twice and scored Cedar Bluff’s lone run.