Panthers give complete effort in 15-0 dismantling of Rams

Palo Verde softball coach Kelly Glass had to think for a while Friday when asked if there was anything she didn’t like about her team’s performance.

Nothing came to her.

Nor should it have.

The defending state champion Panthers pounded out 18 hits, played errorless defense and got a sparkling two-hitter from Rachel Williams en route to a 15-0 five-inning win at Rancho.

“I think we got everything we wanted to out of today’s game,” Glass said. “It was good.”

Every Palo Verde starter had at least one hit and scored at least one run.

Melissa Lacro had three hits, and Angel Council, Rachael Turner, Breanna Beatty, Lauren Oxford, Rachel Williams, Mackenzie McBride and Jordan Menke each added two hits.

Williams finished 2-for-4 with a triple, a double and four RBIs, and Turner was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.

The Panthers (7-1) had 11 of their hits in the first three innings against Rancho starter Aly Lamboo, one of the better pitchers in the Sunrise Region.

“We saw the good pitching that I was hoping to see,” Glass said. “I set up this game because I wanted to work on our sticks.”

Palo Verde was just as effective on defense, getting a two-hitter from Williams, and playing errorless ball.

Williams, who is still working her way back from off-season surgery on her throwing shoulder, needed only 53 pitches to retire the Rams (0-3). She walked one and struck out four, including the game’s final two hitters.

“Being able to see her pitch a complete game was a bonus,” Glass said. “She’s not 100 percent yet, but she and Brooke (Stover, Palo Verde’s catcher) work well together. We have a routine with her and being able to go through her routine is helping her. She hit her spots much better today.”