District 4-4A softball roundup: Dumas and Pampa stay red hot

Pampa and Dumas continue to send a message as two teams that will be in serious contention for a district championship by seasons end.

The Lady Harvesters and Demonettes stayed unbeaten in District 4-4A at 4-0 after a busy week of action over spring break.

Pampa (12-2 overall) made it look easy by blanking Hereford 20-0 on Tuesday, followed by a 26-1 pummeling of Perryton on Wednesday. The Lady Harvesters feasted on Whiteface and Rangerette pitching during the combined 46 runs in the pair of victories.

Against Hereford, it was Hallie Hawthorne putting in the work going a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish while crushing two home runs for a total of seven RBIs. Maecie Hawthorne, Hallie’s sister, added a 2-for-2 day with a solo shot and Kynleigh Kirby added six RBIs on a 3-for-4 afternoon including a homer. Against Perryton, Maecie was at it again boasting a 3-for-4 game with six RBIs and a homer. Hallie had a solo shot and teammate Cassidy Stanhope was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run tallying three runs driven in. Not only were the bats hot, but Kirby and Hallie were on point in the circle. In the run-rule win of Hereford, Kirby tossed all five innings allowing only one hit with 13 strikeouts. In the Perryton win, Hallie went all five innings stacking up 10 K’s giving up only two hits.

Things were a little closer for Dumas, however, the Demonettes (19-3) were able to escape with a 3-2 win at Randall on Friday, then a 6-4 victory at Hereford on Saturday.

Dumas and Randall were tied, 2-2, in the top of the seventh inning when Melaney Granados delivered a two-out triple. Moments later, teammate Cami Velasquez drove Granados in as the eventual game-winning run on a double. Velasquez was 2-for-4 against Randall including the huge RBI in the seventh. Pitcher Star Cortes threw a complete game with six K’s.

Against Hereford, the Demonettes had a huge outing from Briana Vargas. Vargas was 4-for-4 at the dish with two doubles and an RBI and struck out five in the circle. Aaliyah Chairez went 2-for-3 with a homer and a pair of RBIs, and Granados had a 3-run home run.

Randall was able to bounce back on Saturday taking down rival West Plains by a 10-1 count. That puts the Lady Raiders 2-2 in the district and 14-10 overall. Anberlin O’Dell got things started on Saturday driving a 2-run homer over the center field wall to give the Lady Raiders a 2-0 lead. That was a part of a big afternoon for O’Dell who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Berkley Browder also did her job at the plate and in the circle.

At the dish, Browder hit a 2-run homer, and in the circle she tossed a complete game racking up eight strikeouts. West Plains is still in search of its first district win falling to 0-4 and 9-12-1 overall.

After suffering a loss to Dumas to open district, Canyon has found its footing with three straight wins. The Lady Eagles (6-13 overall) stayed hot on Saturday by downing Borger 7-2. The spark came from catcher Maison Guerra who had a 3-run home run. Kylie Knowles was strong in the circle going all seven innings getting an impressive 15 strikeouts. Canyon is now 3-1 in district and 6-13 overall. Borger falls to 2-2 in district and 10-12-1.