Parkway fans enjoy a magical night from baseball, softball teams
What started out as your average spring sports night in SOBO turned into a magical one for the Parkway baseball and softball teams.
The Panthers’ Abel Thetford accomplished a rarity by hitting for the cycle for the first time in his career as his team got past Sterlington 6-4. Thetford also closed out the game on the mound to secure the win for Sean Waits.
“It felt like a video game up there. You don’t see it much,” Thetford said. “I just carried the momentum. That was pretty much it.”
Just a few steps away from Thetford’s memorable night, the Lady Panthers found some magic of their own thanks to two of the best female athletes in the state. Fresh off their LHSAA state basketball championship on Saturday, Chloe Larry and Dakota Howard drilled home runs in a 13-0 shelling of Byrd. It was their inaugural softball games of the season.
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“Adding Chloe and Dakota, my two basketball girls, I think is going to make a huge difference,” Parkway coach Kelsey Gallman. “The girls fought before we got them. We’ve been in every game, we just haven’t been able to put all the puzzle pieces together.”
While the Lady Panthers won handily, the Panthers had to hold on after building a 5-0 lead. If not for Thetford’s big night, Sterlington may have escaped with a win. Parkway coach Aaron Wicklund said he’s enjoyed putting his brand of baseball on Parkway after moving over from Captain Shreve. Getting an effort like Thetford’s makes it even more fun.
“It’s the first time where I’ve ever been part of a game where a player hit for the cycle,” Wicklund said. “I’ve been coaching a long time and I’ve never seen that.”
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Magical night casts spell on Parkway baseball, softball teams
