By Mickey Smith
ETX BELL SPORTS
The Lady Panthers dynasty started back in 2013 when Head Coach Megan Dobrinski first started putting the program on solid ground.
Unfortunately Coach D lost a brutal battle with cancer in 2020.
Bring on Coach Julie Murry of whom has yet to lose a district game. Add to that the Lady Panthers have not lost a home game since dedicating the field name in honor of Coach Dobrinski.
Murry has a 185-30-6 ledger after Dobrinski posted a 148-42 record in her seven-year stint.
Combined. 279-59-2 since 2013, and 11 consecutive district titles.
Having run into Liberty four of the past five years in postseason play, Bullard won only once in what Liberty fans now begrudgingly call ‘the Hadi Fults game.’
Due to odd realignment this is the first time the two teams play a game as early as the Area round.
“I think it’s very unfortunate for both programs that we had to meet up this early this year,” six-year head mentor, Coach Murry said about the earlier round matchup. “With the reformatting of postseason play, it forced a big game a little early in the playoffs.”
Turns out it was a one-game marathon that was deserving of the state title.
Great pitching on both sides saw the hits for either pack of Lady Panthers few and far between.
Lady Panther pitcher Brooklyn Brannen was a force to be reckoned with on the mound and at-bat.
In the top of the third inning, Liberty scored one run on a solo blast clearing the centerfield fence for starting Liberty shortstop, Kylie Bishop and a 1-0 Bullard deficit.
Bullard answers back in the fouth frame with the first of only two hits in the game as pitcher Brooklyn Brannen’s leadoff bunt single broke the ice.
The Bullard pitcher then stole second and moved up on fielders choice, before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left field by catcher, Baylie Walker.
Liberty next handed Bullard a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning with their lone error on an infield fly error to score Kenzi Roberts.
Roberts had leadoff walk, and stole two bases to give Bullard a 2-1 advantage.
Liberty came back to tie in the seventh inning,taking advantage of the lone Bullard miscue on the day as Liberty’s centerfielder, Bryanna Pantalion finished off her second triple, then with heads-up running, scored on a lackadaisical exchange in the infield.
Bullard went three up, three down to force the game to extra innings tied 2-2.
Crisp defense, and slick hurling from Brannen and the opposing pitcher, Brookelynn Taylor highlighted the next four inning stretch.
Taylor was later relieved by Bishop on the mound in the top of the 10th inning.
“Brooklyn (Brannen) was quite the competitor for us and she was tough in some very big moments,” Murry said of her junior pitchers efforts in the 11-inning marathon.
“She trusted her stuff on a big stage in just a beautiful way, and
200 pitches on any given day really requires some mental and physical toughness, but 200 pitches with many of them being stressful pitches, shows just how tough she is as an athlete,” Murry said about her righty flamethrower.
Bullard left the bases loaded twice in the next four innings only to have Taylor close the door, twice with two of her 15 strikeouts.
Finally in the bottom of the 11th inning after one hit and a few free passes loaded up the bases for Liberty.
Second baseman, Abbie Key was hitless on the day, however the second baseman ripped a line drive that one-hopped the centerfold fence for the walk-off, 3-2, Class 4A-DI Area Championship.
Young and full of revenge for next season, Bullards unexpected early playoff exit will certainly fuel 2026.
Returning five of nine starting positions for next year, the future is brighter than a diamond mine.
The Lady Panthers had four seniors had their final dance on the diamond representing Bullard.
Catcher, Baylie Walker, second baseman, Zaylee Zahirniak, outfielder, Dakota Payne, and third baseman, Kamyn Honzell.
“Losing four seniors who have been with me for four seasons is tough,” Coach Murry said, “It’s emotionally tough because we have made some special memories, coached em hard and loved em even harder.”
Those seniors amassed a record of 140-22-1 and credit for the one lone win in state playoffs against Liberty in 2023.
