Panthers Roll Over Saxons In Battle Of First-Year Coaches

Welcome to the Greater Spokane League, first-year Ferris coach Dave Jackson. The Mead Panthers defeated Jackson’s Ferris Saxons 10-0 in the GSL softball opener for both teams at Mead on Thursday.

In other GSL openers, University defeated Lewis and Clark 4-3, and the North Central-Rogers and Central Valley-Shadle Park games were rained out.

The Titans (1-0) got a two-out RBI double from Heather Beach to score Stephani Shelton for the game-winning run in the seventh inning.

Shelton finished the game with three hits, including a triple.

For the Tigers (0-1), pitcher Olivia Smith struck out five batters, scattered nine hits and issued no walks.

University Jamie Fox struck out seven and walked one.

As far as Ferris was concerned, Jackson assumed the coaching duties this year when Jill Harms stepped down.

After Mead’s win, Jackson found himself playing the role of a nurturing parent to his team.

“We’re still working out the bugs,” he said. “We’re much more competitive than what the score of this games indicates, and I think this team realizes that.”

For first-year Mead coach Bridget Monaghan, the win was a good way to get the season started.

“We hit the ball pretty well,” she said. “We’re a pretty young team right now, but they’re just going to keep getting better.”

Mead scored two runs in the first inning, seven in the second and one in the third to round out the scoring in the abbreviated five-inning game.

The Panthers’ Jodie Slackman hit an RBI triple in the first to give Mead a 2-0 lead.

On the mound, Mead’s Holly Vanwert and Holly Turner combined to pitch a two-hitter against the Saxons.

Vanwert struck out 11 and walked two batters before Turner came on in the fifth inning.

“Both of them are young and are going to learn a lot at the varsity level after good seasons playing with the JVs last year,” Mongahan said.

Mead will get more experience this weekend in a round-robin tournament at Clarkston. Rogers is also participating in the tournament. If the Panthers and Pirates win their first games, they will play each other.