The Paden City Wildcats opened their 2010 softball season with a 12-4 victory over county rival Hundred March 17 in Paden City.

Hundred’s first batter, Haley Hayes, was hit by a pitch to start the game and moved to second on a passed ball. However, ‘Cats senior hurler Amber Palmer sat down the next two batters on strike outs before throwing out the next batter on a come-backer to end the first without any damage.

The Hornets’ pitcher, Jordyn Gorby, fanned the Wildcats’ first batter on strikes, but walked Bethany Arnett before striking out the number three batter. However, a double by the ‘Cats’ catcher, Dominique Craft, plated Arnett for the game’s first run. Kelsey Loy singled to score Craft and gave the hostesses a 2-0 advantage after one inning of play.

Hundred’s Macy Woods drilled a single and stole second base; Rachel Ashcraft walked. Both she and Woods advanced one base each on a double steal on the same play. Woods scored on a fielder’s choice and Ashcraft was stranded at third after Palmer sat down the next two batters to get out of the inning with only one run given up.

The Hornets put up a three-spot in the fourth. Ashcraft opened with her second free pass and moved to second on a ground out. Taylor Ashcraft walked and stole second, pushing Rachel to third. Hayes doubled them both in and scored on a fielder’s choice.

Paden City scored two runs in the third and put their visitors away in the fifth when they tallied seven runs after two outs.

Hayes led the Hornets with a double and a single and plated a pair. Woods and Mercedez Goff each singled, with Woods stealing two bases. Gorby was the hard luck losing pitcher. She struck out 10 and walked only four.

Palmer was the winning pitcher, striking out 11 batters but walking 10 in the complete game victory. Arnett had three hits, stole three bases, and scored three times to lead the offense for Paden City.

Palmer and Courtney Conaway each cracked a pair of singles. Palmer plated three runs, while Conaway brought home two teammates. Craft scored three times, while plating a run on a double. Ashley Efaw, Katie Kline, and Samantha Shreves each singled. Both Kline and Efaw each plated runs for the ‘Cats.

The ‘Cats tallied 12 runs on 11 hits, while committing two errors.

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Amber Palmer was 3-4 with a double and a pair of singles, while knocking home a run, stealing three bases, and scoring three times March 18 at home. But, it wasn’t enough to get by Williamstown, who prevailed 20-6.

Eleven walks and nine errors was the key component to the majority of Williamstown’s runs.

The Wildcats scored four of their six runs in the third frame. After the first batter struck out, Palmer lined her second single of the game and then stole second. Bethany Arnett followed with a walk and Courtney Conaway filled the bases with a single. After a strikeout, Samantha Shreves singled to knock in a pair. Ashley Efaw doubled, plating two more.

Smacking hits for the Wildcats were Palmer with three, while Arnett, Conaway, Shreves, Ashley Efaw, Katie Kline, and Kelsey Loub each added singles. Palmer was tagged with the loss from the mound. She struck out five and walked nine, while Loub came in relief and walked two.

Paden City dropped a 10-0 mercy-rule no-hitter March 19 to the St. Marys Blue Devils.

Amber Palmer and Kelsey Loub combined to walk 10 batters for the ‘Cats and struck out five.