On Monday, the Panthers, despite a valiant effort, came up on the losing end, as they were defeated by the Cass Kings by a score of 6-2.
It was a tie game going into the final frame, but McMillan was unable to slow down the Kings’ best hitters, allowing four runs in the top of the seventh and giving Cass a lead they would not relinquish.
“We just ran into a really good Cass team,” Coates said. “In all honesty, we didn’t play too bad. It was 2-2 going into the top of the seventh, but they had the heart of the order coming up, and they’ve got some tremendous athletes.
“Overall, I was proud of the girls and I was proud of their effort. We just didn’t get enough done tonight.”
Now, with just three games remaining before the sectional, Coates is hopeful that his team will be playing their best softball at the right time.
“For us, it’s just working on all of those little things that we aren’t doing real well,” Coates said. “We want to keep getting better. We are at that point of the season where if we don’t know it by now, then we are not going to know it, so hopefully we know it.
McMillan was 1-for-3 with two RBI, while Lee and Ross also finished 1-for-3 in the contest.
McMillan pitched the entire game, giving up five earned runs while striking out 11 in the loss.
