By PATRICK CASEY
DeFuniak Springs, Fla.– The Walton softball team brought their bats to their contest with district foe Panama City Rutherford on Monday night as Jamie Lamb and Jade Larrick each hit grand slam home runs to lead the Braves to a 12-5 victory that clinched the top seed in next week’s district tournament as well as a berth in the Class 5A state playoffs.
Walton, which played their first game in 14 days, put up six runs in the bottom of the second inning as Jade Larrick singled with Kelee Mosley and Sydni Earley each reaching on errors. Senior Kiki Bogart followed with a single and Jasmin Hester drew a walk to put the host squad up 2-0. Shortstop Jamie Lamb then clubbed a 2-1 pitch from Rutherford starter Abbie Barron over the center field wall to clear the bases and build a 6-0 lead.
Rutherford struck back for two runs in the top of the third inning as Karisa Pledger singled with Savannah Boyette following with a two-run blast to leftfield on a 2-0 pitch from Walton pitcher Hannah Poole to cut the lead to 6-2.
Walton put the game out of reach with a five-run bottom of the fourth as both Jasmin Hester and Jamie Lamb doubled to move the lead to 7-2. Lamb was nabbed off of third base on a ball put in play by Macy Danley but Poole walked and Celeste Truett reached on a single. Jade Larrick then delivered the second grand slam home run of the game for the Braves as she connected on a 3-2 pitch for a blast that went out over the left-centerfield wall for an 11-2 advantage.
The Rams came back with three runs in the top of the fifth inning as two errors were sandwiched around a Micah Pledger triple with Gabby Novak singling in two runs to get the visiting squad within 11-5.
Walton tallied the final run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning as Earley walked and eventually scored with the help of a wild pitch.
Poole went the distance, pitching seven innings while allowing seven hits, as she recorded nine strikeouts with three walks coming off Spring Break week and a weekend that found her under the weather.
Walton clubbed 10 hits in the contest with Larrick providing three hits and four runs batted in with Lamb adding two hits and five RBIs. Bogart and Truett had two hits apiece as the Braves celebrated Senior Night and their final regular season home game, though the Braves hope to return in less than two weeks to host a first round playoff game as District 1 champions.
Bay (4-14) and Rutherford (9-11) will square off in the three-team district on April 12 in a district semifinal that will see the winner face Walton for the District 1 championship on April 14.
Walton (15-2) will close out the regular season with a game at South Walton (12-6) on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Team Notes: Poole has 205 strikeouts in 17 regular season games so far this season after recording 260 as a freshman last season. Shyy Walker and Kiki Bogart are the squad’s only two seniors with assistant coach Larry Antonacci also being honored before the contest as he will retire from Walton High School at the end of the school year.