By Ashley Crutcher
The South Panola fastpitch softball got a measure of revenge as they took down Desoto Central Tuesday afternoon 4-1 in the first game of the first round of 1-6A playoffs.
The no. 4 state ranked Lady Tigers (20-3) saw Chloe Morgan score on a Haley Reid single to left in top of the first for the 1-0 lead. Morgan and Caroline Dickins walked to get on base.
Desoto Central came out swinging on offense as their lead off batter doubled to left and scored the only run for the Lady Jaguars on a bunt to tie the game 1-1.
In the second inning Mallory Myers upped her batting average to .385 with a  double to left to drive home Amber Helmes and Chloe Morgan.
Helmes beat the throw to first while Morgan drew her second walk of the game.
Myers led at the plate going 2-for-3 with one double, two RBIs (runs batted in) and one run.
Desoto Central became even more sting with runs allowed for the rest of the game. South Panola returned the favor, keeping their old nemesis scoreless to set up game two and if necessary, game three. The scores were not available at presstime.
The Lady Tigers were halted in the third inning as Parker was left on base after a single to left. On defense, the Lady Tigers battled to keep runners off base. After a strikeout by Dickins and a caught fly ball by Reid, a Desoto runner reached first on an error. Another strikeout by Dickins ended the inning, leaving the Desoto runner on base.
In the fourth, Myers singled to left and then scored on a passed ball.
The Lady Tigers again held strong on defense as Dickins fanned two batters. One Desoto runner got on base with a single to left center. Chloe Morgan caught a fly to center for the second out. On a 2-2 count, the Desoto batter attempted to bunt and was called out.
The fifth inning remained scoreless as Maci Kirkland was left on base after a walk. A Desoto runner reached first on an error and was driven home on a hit to shortstop, but was later called out for runner interference after running into Myers at shortstop.
Other hitters were Reid, 1-for-4, one RBI; Morgan Parker, 1-for-4; and Helmes, 1-for-3.
The second round of playoffs will begin Monday night. The winner of this series will face the winner of the Clinton/Northwest Rankin series.
Updated information will be posted on Facebook and www.panolian.com
See the bracket on this page.