If Ponder head coach Paige Wells had to fill out Wanda Malone’s report card after Thursday’s game, Malone would get a grade ‘K.’

Malone recorded an unfathomable 34 strikeouts in 13 shutout innings to lead the Lady Lions to a marathon, 1-0, victory over the Pottsboro Lady Cardinals in the Class 2A Region II bi-district playoff game at Pioneer Field at Texas Women’s University.

DRC/Gary Payne

Ponder third baseman Heather Bartek looks to throw out Pottsboro’s Kayla Burkham during a Class 2A Region II bi-district game on Thursday at Texas Woman’s University. Ponder won, 1-0, in 13 innings.

The Lady Lions move on to the area round to face District 16-2A champion Blooming Grove next week.

“I’m not as tired as you’d think,” Malone said. “I just had to regroup and say ‘I’m going to need some help.’ I’m very excited because it’s my senior year and I didn’t want to go out lower than we’ve ever gone out.”

The Lady Lions (20-5) recorded the game’s only run in the top of the 13th inning when freshman Ashley Anderson hit a single just past second base and into the outfield. Pottsboro (14-9) centerfielder Loren Krebbs misplayed the bouncing ball, and Anderson managed to round the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

“I was just telling myself I need to get a hit and I hit it,” Anderson said.

But the drama wasn’t over after Ponder scored. After giving up just one hit through 12 innings, Malone gave up a single to Jessica Carson and Devin Holder followed it with a bunt that put runners on second and third with no outs.

A ball hit in play would have likely tied the game at least, but Malone struck out consecutive batters and the Lady Lions sealed the win with a pop out in foul territory.

“It was pretty tense,” Wells said of the bottom of the 13th inning. “They had their big hitters coming up. We just hoped and prayed Wanda could do her thing and she did. She shut them down. It was a nice way to go out for her.”

As formidable as Malone was, Pottsboro pitcher Jenna Wilson was equally good in tallying 16 strikeouts and allowing only four hits in the game. But as the game went into extra innings, Wilson began to show signs of fatigue as the Lady Lions started putting the ball in play.

Malone struck out the Lady Cardinal batting order her first time through and had a perfect game before Heather Haddock broke it up with a single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

“That girl threw her heart out,” Wells said of Malone. “She knew what she had to do. She didn’t have a good game the last two outings but she definitely showed what she’s made of tonight. That’s Wanda right there.”

Neither team really threatened to score before Anderson’s run. Ponder’s Katelyn Woods hit a two-out double in the top of the 10th to put the game’s first runner in scoring position, but a strikeout ended the inning on the next at-bat.

Lady Lion catcher Nicki Ranks broke up Wilson’s no-hitter with a single in the top of the fourth, but Wilson retired the side in a stellar career-ending game.

But she couldn’t match Malone, who struck out the side in nine innings, including three times in extra innings.

“I feel like I put in everything I had and more,” Malone said. “That last inning I had to ask for help. I think everything worked out pretty well.”

As for Wells, she’s just glad to still be playing.

“I’m just happy, happy to still be in the playoffs,” she said. “That’s all you say in the playoffs, just keep winning. You hate to win a ball game on an error but Ashley got a great hit. It was at least a double. That’s a big freshman right there.”

JEFF ANDREWS can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is jandrews@dentonrc.com.  

Ponder 1, Pottsboro 0 (13 innings)

Ponder          000      000      000      000      1          —        1          4          0

Pottsboro      00        000      000      0          —        0          3          1

Wanda Malone and Nicki Franks. Jenna Wilson and Harley Harp. WP – Malone. LP – Wilson. 2B – Ponder: Katelyn Woods. Records: Ponder (20-5), Pottsboro (14-9).