For the Permian softball team, it was the perfect way to begin District 2-6A play.
The Lady Panthers cruised past their crosstown rivals, defeating Odessa High 22-4 after five innings Tuesday at the Ratliff Softball Complex.
Permian scored ten-runs in the first inning in a game where the Lady Panthers only trailed once.
Permian improved to 15-6-2 overall, 1-0 in district play while the Lady Bronchos fell to 5-13, 0-1.
“It was exciting. I know we’re capable of a lot of things and we kind of struggled on some things in the last couple of weeks but we’ve pulled together and our hitting came through tonight,” Permian head coach Darren Pool said.
The Lady Bronchos got the start they wanted, taking a quick 1-0 lead off a home run by Tatianna Deliz in the top of the first inning.
Their momentum, however, wouldn’t last.
Permian answered back in the form of 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning to quickly get in front and take control of the game.
“We got to do a better job of seeing the ball,” Odessa High head coach Elsa Cocker said. “We have to put the ball in play … we came up with a few walks and that’s what got us in the first inning. We’re young so we need to gain more experience in the box.”
A sacrifice by Koko Moreno scored Audrina Ramirez for the Lady Panthers to tie the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the first.
A base hit by Genesis Galicia scored Jaylah Valerio and Amariss Lopez for Permian to give the Lady Panthers a 3-1 advantage.
Kyleigh Pierson’s three-run homer extended the Lady Panthers’ lead to 6-1 shortly after and the first inning still wasn’t over.
Permian added two more runs shortly after.
The Lady Panthers weren’t done yet as Valerio added a two-run home run and the hosts had a 10-1 lead.
Odessa High answered back as the Lady Bronchos scored a run in the top of the second.
Permian loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with two outs.
Ramirez’s single into deep center field scored two Permian players for a ten-run advantage.
Odessa High’s Anahi Dominguez’s single scored teammate Mya Mayberry to make it a nine-run game in the top of the third.
Moreno’s double into center field, put a runner on third in the bottom half of the third.
Nyssa Dunn’s sacrifice scored Valerio to make it 13-3.
Galicia’s RBI single then made it an 11-point lead for the Lady Panthers.
Permian added runs by Galicia and Kadence Cornelius to make it 16-3 soon after.
A single by Ramirez scored Kinsley Cox as Permian remained in control.
Ramierez soon crossed home plate as a single by Lena Chavez made it 18-3.
Lopez scored soon after to keep Permian’s run going.
Moreno added a two-run home run shortly after with the game still in the third inning.
Permian added a home run to begin the bottom half of the fourth inning.
Odessa High scored a run in the top of the fifth.
Moreno took the win as the pitcher for the Lady Panthers.
“Our pitchers have worked their tails off and Moreno did her job,” Pool said. “We challenged our hitters and our outfielders to give our pitchers some support.”
