A team with high aspirations this season, the Knoxville Softball team would play even with Newton in the season opener last night forcing extra innings but eventually falling 4-3.

Delaynne South would start in the circle for the Panthers and give up three runs on three doubles in the first inning, but would settle down and be practically unhittable through the next six innings. The Panthers would answer back with three runs of their own in the top of the second from RBI singles off the bats of freshman Anna Sanderson and eighth grader Maddy Findley, but both offenses would quiet down the rest of the game.

The 3-3 tie would remain until the bottom of the eighth inning where Newton would get a leadoff single followed by a double to score the walkoff win. Coach Steph Christner said that despite the result she is happy with how the team played, but wants them to be more aggressive moving forward. The 0-1 Panthers get a chance to even their record against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont at home tomorrow night in a game that can be heard live on AM1320 and FM95.3 KNIA.

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