By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot softball team made the long trip to the state’s eastern border on Tuesday and utterly demoralized West Memphis 28-0. The Lady Panthers already had a 7-0 lead when they went to the plate in the second frame. In that period of play, Cabot sent 21 batters to the plate and scored 17 runs for a 24-0 lead. But since there is no sportmanship rule that allows for a game to mercifully end until three innings are complete, the Lady Panthers had to bat again in the third inning.
Cabot batted around again in scoring the final four runs. Pitcher Lauren McCluskey, who usually doesn’t bat, started and ended the inning.
Cabot got 12 hits, walked 11 times, reached twice on hit batters and seven times on West Memphis errors. Cleanup hitter Kaitlyn Felder compiled three base hits, including a two-run home run in the first inning and a double in the third. She finished with five RBIs.
Heather Hill went 2 for 3 and was hit twice. She also hit a home run during her second at-bat of the second inning, and doubled in the first inning.
Bethany Knowles came off the bench to finish with two base hits and score three runs in place of leadoff hitter Rachel Allgood.
The win keeps Cabot perfect in 7A/6A East Conference play and alone atop the league standings at 10-0.
McCluskey went the distance on the mound without allowing a base hit. She was one walk away from a perfect game while striking out five Lady Blue Devils.
McCluskey also pitched when Cabot hosted 5A powerhouse Paragould in a nonconference game at home on Thursday. The Lady Rams won that matchup 5-1 to drop Cabot’s overall record to 13-7.
Paragould took the lead in the first inning and never trailed. They made it 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning before Cabot added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Brandyn Vines.
McCluskey went the distance, giving up seven hits while striking out four and walking two Lady Rams. Peyton Carter got the win for Paragould, giving up just two hits and striking out 10. Hill had the only other hit for Cabot.
The Lady Panthers hosted Marion on Friday. Look for details of that game in Wednesday’s edition of The Leader. They will host Jonesboro on Tuesday in continuing conference play.