One week into the softball season, and Knoxville holds a 3-1 record and even at 1-1 in the South Central Conference. The Panthers just completed a busy first week of games defeating Oskaloosa, Newton and Cardinal while dropping their conference opener to Davis County. Knoxville is one of many teams from the SCC that has a chance to win the conference, which has eluded Knoxville since the Panthers returned to the South Central in 2014. Coach Carla Smith tells KNIA/KRLS Sports there are no days off with the likes of Albia, Clarke and Cardinal, who have all won state titles in the past.

Smith: “I think all across the board whoever comes in day in and day out hits the ball well. We have a lot of good pitchers in our conference, and any team that can hit the ball well and play well on defense and keep the other team from scoring.”

Knoxville is not quite as busy this week with Memorial Day on Monday, plus the Panthers get an extra day off on Tuesday before returning to action on Wednesday with a road double header against Washington before closing the week with back-to-back conference games on the road with Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Thursday and Centerville on Friday.