JAMBOREE: Panthers learn lesson from late loss

Palo Verde’s softball team learned a valuable lesson Saturday.

Fortunately, it only cost the Panthers an extra game in the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park.

Palo Verde watched a 5-1 lead with two outs in the seventh inning slip away before dropping a 6-5 decision to Empire (Ariz.) in a backdraw game of the tournament's upper bracket.

“My girls need to play hard from the start to the finish of games,” Palo Verde coach Kelly Glass said. “We didn’t do that, but the kids that I have will learn from it.”

The Panthers took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh and still held the lead with two outs in the inning before a single drove in one run and Gracie Taber’s bases-loaded triple tied the game.

Kelsey Smith followed with a game-ending single.

“We come out early attacking and then not finishing,” Glass said. “We just need to learn to finish.”

Rachel Williams spotted the Panthers most of their early lead, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs. She pitched five strong innings, allowing just one run.

Breanna Beatty added a home run for the Panthers, who played in one of the tournament’s toughest two pools, defeating Bingham (Utah) and Fallbrook (Calif.) and losing to El Camino Real (Calif.). The three pool games were decided by a total of four runs.

The Panthers finished 3-3 in the tournament.

“We saw great pitching, and we had some good at-bats,” Glass said. “I’m very pleased with my defense, and I’m happier with my pitching. I just need some more consistency on offense.

“This was good for us. We faced some good teams, and it will help us.”

Empire went on to defeat El Camino Real, 2-1 in the backdraw final.

Torrance (Calif.) 6, Centennial 4 — The Bulldogs rallied back from a 4-0 deficit, only to watch the Tartars score twice in the top of the seventh inning for the win.

Centennial tallied two runs in the bottom of the fifth, and Lauren Stroman’s pinch-hit two-run single with two outs in the sixth tied the game.

Allison Riggs was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Bailie Nelson went 1-for-3 with an RBI for Centennial.

Garfield (Calif.) 6, Rancho 4 — The Bulldogs scored four runs in the sixth inning and held off the Rams.

Brandy Marlett went 2-for-4 and tossed a three-hitter for Rancho.

San Fernando (Calif.) 18, Cheyenne 1— The Tigers scored 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back in coasting to a win over the Desert Shields.