Lady Panthers Make Area Round

The Paradise Lady Panthers had a good season this year, making it to the area round of the playoffs this year before falling to Tom Bean. As soon as All-District awards are announced, we will post them here.

Lady Panthers Win Thriller, Advance

JACKSBORO-The Paradise Lady Panthers used two bases-loaded hits for big innings on Monday night on their way to a thrilling 7-6 win over City View.

After the first two innings went scoreless, Paradise broke through with four runs in the third. Jett Preather led off with a single and Laura Wilson followed with an infield slap single. After Taelor Burns advanced the runners with a groundout, Shelby Lavigne singled to drive in Preather. Next was Laney Campbell, who walked to load the bases. After Samantha Bednorz hit a solid liner that was caught for an out, Hannah Eisen was next. On an 0-2 pitch she socked a single to left field that cleared the bases.

City View would benefit from a couple of infield singles and a Paradise miscue to score three runs in the top of the fourth to bring the score to 4-3.

Paradise answered that inning with three runs of their own. Taylor Rector opened the inning with a perfectly-placed bunt single. After the next two batters flew out, Burns walked. Lavigne had an infield single that loaded the bases, and Campbell was next at bat. The junior second baseman cranked a triple down the left field line, clearing the bases and giving Paradise a 7-3 lead.

As it would turn out, Paradise needed every one of those runs. The Lady Mustangs tacked on a run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to cut the Paradise lead to 7-6.

In the top of the seventh, the Lady Mustangs got their leadoff batter on and appeared to be in business. At that point, Wilson squashed any hopes of a rally, striking out the next three batters swinging to end the game.

Wilson pitched all seven innings for the Lady Panthers and was spectacular, fanning 12 along the way and picking up the win.

Leading hitters for Paradise were Lavigne with 3 hits, Campbell with 2 hits and 3 RBIs, and Preather, Wilson, Eisen, Tiffany Stinnett, and Rector all notching hits.

Lady Panthers Win on Senior Day

PARADISE-The Paradise Lady Panthers scratched out a 10-9, eight inning win over Tolar on April 17. After the game, four seniors were honored: Tori Glover, Laura Wilson, Taelor Burns, and Samantha Bednorz.

The Lady Panthers took control early with four runs in the first inning. Jett Preather led off by being hit by a pitch. She stole second and took third and home on wild pitches. Laura Wilson walked and scored when Laney Campbell bunted for a hit. Campbell would score when Shelby Lavigne socked a double to the wall, then score on a Samantha Bednorz groundout. When the dust had cleared, the home team had a 4-0 lead.

Paradise would add three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Lavigne doubled to the center field wall and would score on a single by Bednorz. Bednorz advanced on a single by Hannah Eisen and then scored on a passed ball. Kourtland Smith reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second and finally came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Laura Wilson. At this point Paradise had a 7-0 lead. However, the Lady Panthers had two runners thrown out at the plate and this would turn out to be important later in the game.

The top of the fifth would see the Lady Rattlers send 13 batters to the plate and score 8 runs, taking the lead. From there no scoring occurred until the bottom of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Lavigne drew a one-out walk and stole second, then took third on a throwing error. Bednorz drove in Lavigne with a fielder's choice and the game was tied. Although Bednorz stole second and was in scoring position, the next two hitters struck out.

Tolar would quickly score a run in the top of the eighth after a hit by pitch and then a triple. A key moment in the inning occurred when an errant pitch hit the backstop and bounced right back to catcher Taelor Burns, who alertly tagged out the runner who was trying to score another run.

In the bottom of the eighth it was do-or-die time for the Lady Panthers, and they did it without registering a hit. With one out, Preather walked, stole second, and took third on a passed ball. Wilson also walked and stole second. Burns tied the game up with a groundout to short. With Campbell at the plate, Wilson came home on a wild pitch and that was the ball game.

For the Lady Panthers, Lavigne led all hitters with 3 hits including 2 doubles, 2 stolen bases, and 2 runs scored.

Senior Laura Wilson started and pitched 7 innings for Paradise, striking out eight along the way. Tiffany Stinnett pitched the final inning, striking out one and getting the win.

Lady Panthers Win Thriller

PARADISE-Jett Preather singled in a run in the 10th inning on April 13, and the Paradise Lady Panthers beat Millsap 6-5. The freshman shortstop also scored the tying run on a Taelor Burns single in the bottom of the 9th when it looked like the home team was on their way to a loss.

After the first two innings went scoreless, Paradise put four on the board in the third. Preather walked with one out and took second on a Burns single. Laney Campbell followed with a single and drove in Preather. Shelby Lavigne was next, and she blasted a 3-run homer over the center field wall. The Lady Panthers were in business, leading 4-0.

Millsap would chip away at the Paradise lead, scoring two runs in the fourth inning and a single run in the fifth. The pesky Lady Bulldogs tied the game up on a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning and the game would eventually wind up in extra innings.

In the top of the ninth, Millsap scratched out a run and took the lead, putting the Lady Panthers in some serious trouble.

Preather led off the bottom of the inning by reaching on a error and then stole second. One out later, it was Burns who delivered a clutch hit that scored Preather, sending the game into the tenth inning.

After Laura Wilson struck out the side in the top of the tenth, Bednorz led off with a single. When Hannah Eisen sacrificed her to second, the Lady Bulldogs went for the lead runner but failed to record an out. One out later, Taylor Rector walked to load the bases. Preather was next and she sent a 2-2 pitch up the middle, scoring Bednorz with the winner.

Wilson pitched all 10 innings for the Lady Panthers, striking out 12 while picking up the win.

Lavigne collected 2 hits and drove in 3 with her home run. Burns went 2 for 5 at the plate and drove in a run. Bednorz went 3 for 5 and scored once. Preather had a hit and an RBI. Campbell had a hit and an RBI. Wilson had one hit in the game as did Tiffany Stinnett.

Lady Panthers Ground Eagles

PARADISE-The Paradise Lady Panthers pounded out 12 hits on their way to a 7-1 win over Brock on April 5. Taelor Burns was 3 for 4 at the plate, driving in a run and scoring twice. Burns got the scoring underway in the bottom of the first when she belted a pitch to the wall and drove in Jett Preather, who had led off the game with a walk.

Other batting leaders included Laura Wilson, who went 2 for 4 at the plate and scored a run. Laney Campbell also went 2 for 4 and scored a run along with a run batted in. Shelby Lavigne was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Hannah Eisen was 2 for 3 with a run batted in. Preather was 1 for 3 and scored twice. Samantha Bednorz had two walks.

Wilson was the pitcher of record for Paradise, going 7 sharp innings and picking up the win. She was helped out by some solid defense by Campbell, who made a diving grab of a soft liner; and by Lavigne, who fielded numerous grounders and fired the ball to first for outs.

Lady Panthers Swat Jackets

BOYD-Laura Wilson fanned 12 Boyd batters while giving up only one hit, and the Paradise Lady Panthers beat the Lady Jackets, 7-0.

Paradise got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Shelby Lavigne swatted a pitch into right field for a single and later scored on a throwing error. In the same inning, Samantha Bednorz walked and came around to score on a Tiffany Stinnett single.

Paradise tacked on three runs in the fourth inning. Hannah Eisen led off and drove the first pitch she saw to the wall for a triple. Next, Taylor Rector reached base on a fielder's choice. When Jett Preather reached base on an error, Eisen scored. Wilson drove in Rector and Preather with a single and Paradise had a 5-0 lead.

Paradise scored two more runs in the top of the seventh. Lavigne led off with a single and came in to score when Bednorz singled. When Rector bunted, Bednorz was out at the plate. Rector alertly took second base and the throw to cut her down went into center field. Before the ball could be brought back in, she had circled the bases for the very unusual fielder's choice-run scored play.

Lavigne led all Paradise hitters with 3 hits. Wilson had 2, and Taelor Burns, Bednorz, Eisen, and Stinnett had one each.

The JV beat Boyd 13-2. Jennifer Welch was the winning pitcher for the Lady Panthers.

Lady Panthers Continue Winning Ways

PARADISE-The Paradise Lady Panthers wasted no time jumping out to a quick lead on Jacksboro and coasted to a 12-2, five-inning win. Laura Wilson was the winning pitcher for Paradise, striking out five Tigerettes along the way.

Graphics Class Makes Softball Cards

Students in the second and fourth period Graphic Design classes have made softball cards. Click on the softball cards link to view them. All cards may be copied and reproduced for free.

Lady Panthers Open District Play with Win

PARADISE-In the bottom of the sixth inning, Samantha Bednorz hit a 1-0 pitch over the center field wall for a two-run homer, and the Paradise Lady Panthers beat Boyd 2-1 on March 6. The game was the district opener for both teams.

The Lady Jackets plated a run in the top of the fourth inning and looked to be in control. However, in the bottom of the sixth, Laney Campbell led off with a walk. After Allie Rutledge sacrified her to second, Bednorz delivered her game-winning shot over the fence.

Boyd would not go quietly in the top of the seventh, loading the bases before Laura Wilson struck out the final batter of the game.

Wilson was spectacular in the pitching circle, striking out 15 and giving up only 3 hits.

Other Lady Panthers getting hits were Jett Preather, Wilson, Taelor Burns, and Rutledge. Burns also registered a "caught-stealing" by throwing out a would-be base stealer.

Photos of the game are here.

Lady Panthers Top Lady Leopards

PARADISE-The Paradise Lady Panthers did their scoring in the early and late innings on February 28, topping Gainesville 7-2.

Paradise started the game off by scoring three runs in the first inning. After Allison Rutledge reached base and then stole second, Jett Preather drove her in with a single. The freshman shortstop then stole second base, and third baseman Shelby Lavigne sent her home with an RBI groundout. Taelor Burns followed with a single and would eventually score on a Gainesville error.

After the quick start, the Lady Panthers offense was frustrated by a long stretch of good pitching and solid defense by the visitors.

Senior Laura Wilson started the game for Paradise and pitched 3 innings, striking out 8 batters during that time. She was unable to continue due to a finger injury with no outs in the fourth. Lavigne relieved Wilson and shut down a Gainesville threat without giving up a run. A key moment in the inning was a double play started by Preather, who fielded a grounder and threw to Samantha Bednorz for an out at first. The senior first baseman fired a perfect throw home where Burns applied the tag on the runner, ending the inning. At this point, Paradise clung to a 3-2 lead.

Tiffany Stinnett took over in the pitcher's circle in the fifth inning and got out of a bases loaded, one out jam with a strikeout and a popout. This would be the last time the Lady Leopards threatened.

In the bottom of the fifth, Rutledge reached base on an error. Wilson, now playing left field, cranked a triple down the right field line for an RBI. Preather drove in Wilson with an infield single, giving Paradise a 6-2 lead.

Paradise would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Stinnett led off with a single to left. After Taylor Rector sacrificed her to second, Rutledge pounded a double to the right-center field wall for an RBI.

Wilson Signs with McLennan

Paradise Senior Laura Wilson has signed a letter of intent to pitch for McLennan Community College in Waco. Seated with Laura is Paradise Coach Karin Essig and McLennan Coach Jenny Isham. Standing are High School Principal Mac Edwards, Laura's parents Cheryl and Van Wilson, and Assistant Principal Greg Fletcher.

Lady Panthers Open with Win

ALVORD-On February 16, the Paradise Lady Panthers scored 10 runs in the fifth inning on their way to a 14-4 win over Alvord. Shelby Lavigne was the winning pitcher for Paradise and she also drove in 3 runs in the decisive inning. The JV won 12-3. Photos of the action can be found on our softball photo gallery page.

Paradise found themselves trailing the Lady Bulldogs early in the game but finally tied things up 4-4. In the top of the fifth, Jett Preather and Laney Campbell reached base with solid hits and Lavigne was next at bat. She sent the first pitch she saw to the center field wall, plating both runners with a triple. By the time the inning was concluded, Paradise had batted around and was leading by ten.

Runs were scored in the game by Allie Rutledge (2 runs), Preather 2, Campbell 2, Lavigne 2, Taelor Burns 2, Tiffany Stinnett 1, Hannah Eisen 1, and Taylor Rector 2.

In the Junior Varsity game, Jennifer Welch was the winning pitcher in the Lady Panthers' 12-4 win and Johnna Headley pitched in relief. A big hit was registered by Mahayla Mann, who circled the bases after socking a hit to the wall in the third inning.

Directions to the Paradise Softball Field

The Paradise ISD baseball/softball complex is about a mile north of the schools. Directions to the complex can be found here.