After a tough start to the season, the Whitman-Hanson softball team is playing their best softball of the season, according to coach Sandy Lombardi.

Panthers hurler Shannon Johnson (4) is congratulated by Danielle Mitchell after Johnson fielded a tough combacker in Monday's game against the Falmouth Clippers.

The Panthers put on a hitting clinic Monday afternoon on a windy, bitter gray day at the high school against the Falmouth Clippers.

The game ended in the bottom of the fifth inning when second baseman Gianna DeSisto singled in the Panthers' 16th RBI of the game, making the score 16-1.  By MIAA rules, play ends when one team scores 15 runs more than their opponents.

The Panthers jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Amanda Daily drive home Kelly Travers with a sacrifice fly.  The Clipper pitcher then walked in a run, and Gabi Capobianchi knocked in two more with a base hit.

The Clippers just couldn't keep the Panthers off the bases, as the home team scored in every single inning except the fourth before the game was called.  The scoring was spread out over the entire team with Gabi Capobianchi knocking in four runs and Amanda Daily pushing three runners across the plate.  The Clippers did get one run in the top of the fourth, but other than that Panthers hurler Shannon Johnson was on the top of her game, striking out six in five innings.

“We hit the ball well,” said Lombardi after the game.  “We play with more confidence when we score early.”

The Lady Panthers' record stands at 6-7 with the win, but Lombardi said the more recent games are encouraging.

“It took a couple of weeks for us to get going, but we're playing some great softball right now.”