Sheldon softball defeats Hume at home

Home plate umpire Chris Holcomb keeps a close eye on the play as Sheldon's Destiny Shelton slides into home safely, ahead of the tag from Hume's Hannah Jacobs during Tuesday night's game, at Sheldon.

By Eric Wade

Daily Mail Sports Editor

SHELDON -- Fresh off of a 12-6 loss at Bronaugh Friday night, the Sheldon Lady Panthers softball team made its return home, hoping to get back on the winning track. Head coach Tyler Judd's squad did just that in an up-and-down contest against the Lady Hornets of Hume High School that ultimately went Sheldon's way, by a final score of 4-2.

Hoping to avenge a loss of their own -- also to the Lady Wildcats, at Bronaugh -- the Lady Hornets entered the night with a bit of a chip on their shoulders and it showed as head coach Tammy Metcalf's squad gave the Lady Panthers all they wanted. Starting pitcher Destiny Shelton was undeterred, however, as she wasted little time dispatching the would-be threat in the early innings.

Thanks to Shelton's strong performance in the pitching circle, the Lady Panthers were able to draw first blood in the contest, plating a single run in the home half of the first inning. That run came from Shelton herself, as she reached base and made her way around, thanks to a struggling Lady Hornets defense.

The Lady Panthers added one more run to their lead in the home half of the second inning, thanks to the contest's second hit and more defensive struggles for the visitors.

Though that run could have been the spark the Lady Panthers needed to run away and hide, the Lady Hornets wouldn't go down without a fight. In the top of the third, Metcalf's squad plated its first run of the night, setting up what turned out to be a close contest.

By the time all was said and done, Shelton did what she needed to do to take the victory, holding the Lady Hornets to just one more run in a complete-game win. Hannah Jacobs took the loss in the pitching circle for Hume.

Shelton's efforts weren't just confined to the pitching circle, however, as she finished the night with a pair of hits, as well.

Behind that strong performance from their starting pitcher, the Lady Panthers went on to plate two more runs in the contest, holding on to take the two-run victory.

Next on the schedule for the Lady Panthers is Thursday, when they host Lakeland. First pitch in that contest is set for 4:30 p.m., at Sheldon.

Metcalf's squad, on the other hand, is scheduled to be off for nearly a week before returning to action next Monday, in a rematch against the Lady Wildcats of Bronaugh High School. First pitch in the opening game of that baseball/softball doubleheader is set for 4:30 p.m., at Bronaugh.