After a rained out game versus Greater Atlanta Christian, the Dawson County High School Lady Tigers softball team started last week by hosting the Union County Panthers in a non-regional contest Sept. 4 at DCHS, and both teams quickly put up one run each via solid, fundamental softball in the first inning. The crowd settled in for a good game and was quickly rewarded as both pitchers, senior Maggie Schandera for the Tigers, and newcomer T. Queen of the Panthers, made quick work of their duties gathering up three outs while recording one strike-out each. After their lead-off hitter managed a single to start the top of the third, Union County started the process of pushing the runner around the bases by laying a beautiful bunt down the line that was mishandled by third-baseman Brandi Williams. In her effort to recover from the error and salvage the out, Williams overshot the throw to first that led to a series of throwing and fielding errors that ended with one run scored by the Panthers and the original batter safe at third base. Capitalizing on the Tigers confusion the next batter put a double into deep center driving in the Panthers third run of the game, but the hit seemed to settle the Tigers down and they retired the remaining batters with solid defensive play. Looking to return the favor, senior Carol Drake led off the Tigers’ turn in the third with a single of her own and was quickly moved to second base with a sacrifice bunt from Williams. Coming to the plate in support of her own cause, Schandera added another RBI to her season total of 13 by driving a sharp single into left field. The Lady Panthers proved quicker to settle down and they retired the next two batters to exit the third inning and maintain their lead at 3–2.