Dillon’s Lady Wildcats opened the season with a 4-3 loss to Hartsville at home on Friday night in varsity softball action.

Dillon took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning, and neither team could score right up until the seventh. Hartsville’s Katie Parker and Cionda Barr scored on a two-run error, and and Madeline Smith scored on a pass ball to take the lead at 4-2. The Wildcats added one run in the bottom of the seventh for the 4-3 final score.

Cayla Drotar earned the win on the mound for Hartsville, pitching all seven innings for seven hits, three runs, two earned runs, five walks, and seven outs.

Shaquailla German took the loss for Dillon, pitching seven innings and facing 32 batters for four hits, four runs, one earned run, four walks, and one hit by pitch. German struck out six in the effort.

At bat for Hartsville, Katie Parker went 1-for-3; Jaclyn Ponder went 1-for-2; and Madeline Smith went 1-for-3 with a RBI. Hartsville had three hits and two errors in the win.

At bat for Dillon, Da’Kerhia Samuel went 2-for-2; Shayna Covington went 1-for-3 with two runs scored; Shaquailla German went 1-for-4 with a RBI; Erin Bailey went 1-for-3 with a RBI; Taylor Price went 1-for-3; Auh’Keria Smiling went 1-for-2; and Tara Grimsley scored one run. Covington, Grimsley, Adoshia Graves, and Taylor Blackmon each had one stolen base. The Wildcats had seven hits in the effort.

In the field, Da’Kerhia Samuel made eight put outs; Shayna Covington made five assists and one put out; Leah McMillan made three put outs and one assist; Taylor Price made three assists; Rebecca Callahan made two put outs and two assists; Tara Grimsley and Auh’Keria Smiling each made a put out; and Shaquailla German and Erin Bailey both made an assist.

The Wildcats start the season with an 0-1 record, while the Class 3A Red Foxes improved to 8-0.

Dillon will host Mullins tonight at 6:30 p.m. to open region play.

Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD. Click the images below to view at full size!