LADY PANTHER SOFTBALL DEFEATS IOLA 12-2 TO SWEEP THEIR SERIES

Doug Brown April 3, 2026

The Burton Lady Panther Softball Team stayed unbeaten in District 26-2A competition with a 12-2 run-rule win over the Iola Lady Bulldogs last (Thursday) night.

Lexi Broesche went all six innings allowing just four hits, two runs, only one of which was earned, did not walk a batter, and struck out 11.

Burton did not take too long to get on the scoreboard. Lexi drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, Natalie Hodde bunted her over to second, and then she stole third. Amaya Williams came up next, and she slammed her 14th homer of the season over the left field fence to give the Lady Panthers an early 2-0 lead.

Burton's biggest inning came in the bottom of the second, when they put six runs on the board. Melanie Wood led it off with a single to centerfield. Back-to-back errors by Iola allowed Wood to score, and Kelsey Landriault and Lexi to reach base. Then, Hodde came up with a two-run single to bring them home. Williams drew a walk. Two batters later, Leilah Ellis hit a two-run single to scored Hodde and Williams. Abby Dowling entered the game as a courtesy runner for Leilah Ellis. She later scored on an RBI single by Laci Broesche to give the Lady Panthers an 8-0 lead.

Iola managed to get their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning to cut the Burton lead to 8-1.

The Lady Panthers picked up two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Aerynn Huntsman led it off with a single, and she came around to score on an RBI triple by Hodde. Williams followed with a walk. Then, on a double steal, Hodde came in to score, which made it 10-1 Burton.

Iola got their second run in the top of the fourth to trim the Lady Panther advantage to 10-2.

Burton got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Ellis drew a walk to lead off the inning, and she then scored on an RBI groundout by Wood. This gave the Lady Panthers an 11-2 edge.

The final run to enforce the mercy rule came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Williams led off the frame with a double, and later she came around to score on an RBI single by Wood that gave Burton the needed ten-run victory margin, 12-2.

The win improves the Lady Panthers to 12-12 overall, and 6-0 in district. They will next be hosting Snook on Tuesday at 6pm.

HITTING

Amaya Williams 2-2 double, homer, two walks, three runs, two RBIs

Natalie Hodde 2-4 single, double, two runs, three RBIs

Melanie Wood 2-4 two singles, run, two RBIs

Leliah Ellis 1-1 single, three walks, run, two RBIs

Laci Broesche 1-4 single, RBI

Aerynn Huntsman 1-3 single, run

PITCHING

WP Lexi Broesche 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K

DISTRICT 26-2A STANDINGS

1.) Burton, 6-0