BANGS – In a game shifted to Bangs on Friday, the reigning District 6-2A softball champion Lady Dragons began defense of their crown with an 18-3 victory over Eldorado.

Bangs (8-8, 1-0) scored six runs in the first inning, five in the second, four in the third and three runs in the fourth, while allowing single runs in the first three frames.

The Lady Dragons finished with 16 hits, with nine going for extra bases as Jordan Valdez and Mattisyn Taylor each homered to lead the offensive onslaught. Taylor finished with three hits, including a triple and a double, with five RBIs; Emily Baker tripled, singled and drove in four; Justice Baker, Cheyenne Rush, Neeley Bradley and Abby Wolf also collected two hits apiece, with Wolf driving in a run; Julianna Ethridge doubled and drove in two; and Jadyn Miller doubled and plated one run.

In the circle, Wolf pitched all three innings and gave up one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts and one walk. The Bangs defense committed three errors behind her.

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Early Lady Horns 18, Dublin 2

EARLY – In their first home District 8-3A softball contest of the season, the Early Lady Horns secured their first league victory Friday, 18-2 over Dublin.

The Lady Horns (4-11, 1-1) led 7-0 after one inning, tacked on four more runs in the second, one in the third and scored their final six runs in the fourth. Dublin produced both its runs in the top of the second inning.

Early recorded 14 hits, including three from Stoney Laughlin who homered twice and drove in three runs. Jamie Vassar also tallied three hits – a home run, a triple and a single – and knocked in five runs. Sydney Greaves finished three hits, including a double, and with a pair of RBIs, while Marissa Reedy notched two hits and drove in one. Gabby Leal and Pearl Sharp contributed one hit and one RBI apiece, while Aubrey Greaves singled.

In the circle, Sydney Greaves worked all four innings and yielded two unearned runs on four hits with one strikeout and two walks. The Early defense committed a pair of errors behind her.

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Early Longhorns 12, Bangs Dragons 2

TUSCOLA – Tied at 2 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, the Early Longhorns erupted for seven runs and added three more in the sixth for a 12-2 victory over the Bangs Dragons Friday at the Jim Ned tournament.

Early (4-9-1) finished with 10 hits – three by Rohyn Price, two by Ethan Pallette and one apiece from Ki Houston, Kamden Gamblin, Alex Perez, Will Prochaska and Rowan McDermed. Pallette, Houston and McDermed all recorded a pair of RBIs while Price, Gamblin, Perez and Prochaska each collected one RBI.

On the mound, Weston Barton pitched six innings and yielded two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and five walks to chalk up the victory.

For Bangs (7-5), the Dragons’ four hits came from Skylar Minshew, with three, and Brayden Gatlin with one. Minshew and Hunter Crowell tallied RBIs.

Hunter Newton, Zack Ferguson and Gatlin combined to allow four earned runs on 10 hits with nine strikeouts and three walks, as the Bangs defense committed seven errors in the field.

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Other scores (No information reported)

Jim Ned 6, Early Longhorns 5

Coleman Bluekatts 15, Winters 1