HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Permian edges Midland Lee 3-1

It was a classic pitcher’s duel.

The game came down to which team would make more mistakes.

In the end, the Permian Lady Panthers did just enough to edge out the Midland Lee Lady Rebels 3-1 Wednesday night at the Ratliff Softball Complex.

With the victory, Permian solidified a top-three playoff spot in District 2-6A.

Of course, it’s been a similar theme each night. Every team in the district has been out to spoil Permian’s season.

“You’ve got to be proud of the girls, and then everybody’s out to get us,” Permian coach Kristin Williams said. “Midland Lee did a good job adjusting. They changed a couple of things since last time, and tried to poke it in there. They did a good job of that.

“We outhit them by one and then struck out seven. Our defense was pretty solid. I can’t ask for a better opportunity, defensively.”

The hits were scarce for each team. Defense was the overall key for Permian (24-0, 6-0 in District 2-6A play).

Midland Lee struck first with an RBI single by Zymra Carrasco in the top of the first. From that point on, the Lady Rebels left seven runners stranded, while they had five hits.

After going down in order in the bottom of the first, the Lady Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the second when Shadie Davis and Aliyah Lara both scored on a throwing error by the shortstop.

Permian pitcher Alexis Morales got into a rhythm, striking out seven batters in a complete game. She only walked one batter.

The Lady Panthers tacked on one more run in the bottom of the fourth after Rylee Day beat out a bunt at first base. The catcher overthrew her mark and Day scored all the way from first.

Midland Lee (12-14-2, 1-4) committed four costly errors, which resulted in three unearned runs.

Day finished 2 for 3 with two singles, while Aguilar went 1 for 2 with a single.

Hunter Harkrider and Briana Dominguez each finished 1 for 3 with a single. Morales beat out an infield single in the second to go 1 for 2.

Permian hosts Wolfforth Frenship at 7 p.m. Friday. Frenship sits in second place in the district, and a win for the Lady Panthers would lock in the number one spot.

“It felt good to continue our record on, but we definitely didn’t play as good as we could have,” Hannah Banker said. “What counts is that we came out on top.

“We’re just gonna have to work really hard tomorrow during practice and just come in with a big game mentality, and be ready, unlike we were today.”

Carrasco and Abby Jordan led Midland Lee, each going 2 for 3. Tana Gonzales finished 2 for 4 with two singles.

In the circle, Carrasco had three strikeouts, while she walked two batters in six innings.

Offense, which has been one of Permian’s strong points, wasn’t clicking like it usually does.

“They are all frustrated with our hitting right now,” Williams said. “We tell them all the time, ‘Relax. See your pitch, hit your pitch.’

“Frenship’s a really good team, too. They’re in second place. It’s gonna be a run for first. We’ve gotta be able to hit, we’ve gotta play defense solid and execute when we need to execute. They’re gonna be ready for us.”

>>Follow Peter Dindinger on Twitter @OA_PDindinger