Palo Verde follows script in 6-1 win over Centennial
By Justin Emerson Las Vegas Review-Journal
Palo Verde’s Keyana Neveu (11) clashes with Centennial’s Makenzie Ball (9) as Neveu scores a run during the fourth inning of a high school softball game at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
The shadow of a Palo Verde athlete is seen as she stretches before her turn at bat during the second inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Taylor Askland (3) pitches during the first inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Jessica Nimmo (2) catches a fly ball during the first inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School the on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Centennial’s Amanda Sink (13) pitches during the first inning of a high school softball game against Palo Verde at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Taylor Askland (3) pitches during the third inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Centennial’s Haylee Lupinetti (8) bunts during the second inning of a high school softball game against Palo Verde at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Taylor Askland (3) catches a fly ball during the third inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Centennial’s Amanda Sink (13) pitches during the third inning of a high school softball game against Palo Verde at Palo Verde High School the on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Makall Whetten (1) slides for second base during the third inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School the on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Keyana Neveu (11) scores a run during the third inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School the on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Centennial’s Amanda Sink (13) is relieved from pitching during the fourth inning of a high school softball game against Palo Verde at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Camden Zahn (27) swings during the fifth inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Centennial’s Haylee Lupinetti (8) pitches during the sixth inning of a high school softball game against Palo Verde at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Palo Verde’s Taylor Askland (3) during the seventh inning of a high school softball game against Centennial at Palo Verde High School on Monday, April 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Palo Verde won 6-1. Christian K. Lee Las Vegas Review-Journal @chrisklee_jpeg
Leadoff hitters get on base and the middle of the order knocks them in. That’s the script every coach wants, and that’s the script Palo Verde softball followed Monday.
Leadoff hitter Makall Whetten started two three-run innings for the second-ranked Panthers and No. 5 hitter Ally Snelling had three RBIs in a 6-1 home victory over third-ranked Centennial.
The win dealt Centennial its first league loss, and coupled with Faith Lutheran’s loss to Arbor View, moved the Panthers (14-4, 6-1 Northwest League) into a tie for second place behind the Bulldogs (14-6, 8-1).
“We decided to show them who’s boss,” Whetten said.
Whetten helped break a scoreless tie by drawing a walk to start the third inning and scoring on a bases-loaded walk from Snelling. Three runs scored in the frame and the Panthers batted around so Whetten led off the fourth as well.
This time she started the inning with a fly ball that swirled around in the wind and landed between two Centennial outfielders for a double. Snelling scored her again, this time with a single that also scored pinch-runner Keyana Neveu.
“I’ll take any RBI I’m given,” Snelling said. “That does feel better, I’d rather take a single than a walk, but anyway to help the team out.”
Snelling finished 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBIs. Whetten was was 1-for-3 with a double, walk and two runs scored. Both times she reached base the Panthers proceeded to score three runs in the inning.
“I’m the leadoff batter and I set the tone for the game,” Whetten said. “When I score, I definitely feel accomplished because I did my job.
Palo Verde pitcher Taylor Askland took a no-hitter into the seventh before allowing three hits and a run in the inning. She completed the game and struck out 10.
“Whenever anyone comes here, we want to make sure we get the win, but we still have two more,” Snelling said of the three-game series, which continues at Centennial on Tuesday. “Our biggest concern is to win the series. We want to get first place in the division.”
