Whether they win or lose, the Lightning Strikers of the Parks and Recreation first- and second-grade Rookie Softball League have a snack awaiting them after the game. After the Strikers beat the Pink Panthers, 20-15, at Youth Sports Inc. on June 20, each Striker eagerly ran to the bleachers to find out the snack they would devour this week.

As the girls enjoyed their Bomb Pops, trying not to spill the red, white or blue Popsicle on their white jerseys, the coach congratulated them and revealed why he enjoys coaching girls.

“The girls are great.” Strikers head coach Kelly Sullivan said. “They’re ready to cheer for their friends and eager to learn,”

Although the Strikers are eager to learn, Kelly said the girls needed to work on their fundamentals.

Throughout the game, however, it seemed as if the Strikers capitalized on every aspect of the game, on both offense and defense. In the first inning, they only allowed Panthers’ leadoff batter, Jenna Henley, to score a run.

Two other Panthers made their way on base but only after Panther Katelyn Hess ran into Lightning first baseman Kennedy Sullivan. Both runners were left on base when the first inning ended.

Pink Panther Naomi Hickman swings in the first inning of her team's Parks and Recreation match-up with the Lightning Strikers on June 20. The Lightning won the game 20-15.

In every inning, the Strikers scored five runs, ending each inning because of the five-run rule.

In the first inning, three Strikers singled and each eventually made it home with only one out.

Kyleigh Severa stepped up to the plate. As her bright pink helmet gleamed in the sun, Severa swung as hard as she could and sent the ball soaring into the outfield. The Panthers were unable to catch it and Severa added a grand slam to the scoreboard at the bottom of the first to give the Strikers a 5-1 lead.

“The multiple home runs helped,” Kelly said about his team’s victory.

The Panthers countered and also had some great hits. Panthers assistant coach Paul Boone said his team’s hitting has become better with the progression of the season, thanks to hitting coach Kathryn Ruddy, a high school softball player.

“They’re having fun and doing better,” Boone said of Ruddy’s work.

Her help showed on the field as Panther Brianna Burnh also hit a grand slam off the tee in the top of the third. The next batter, Mallory Boone, hit a triple and later scored to give the Panthers an 11-10 lead before the bottom of the third.

From the beginning of the game, the Strikers never let up and couldn’t be stopped. In the bottom of the third, Striker Megan Williams hit an inside-the-park home run. Four of her teammates also scored, giving the Strikers a 15-11 at the end of the third.

In the fourth and last inning, the Panthers tried to rally, but came up short as they scored only four runs. The Strikers again scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth, and ended the game with a 20-15 victory.