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The Troup softball team had a tough task in their season opener against reigning 7A state runner-ups East Coweta on Tuesday, coming up short in a 9-1 loss. The Tigers original scheduled opener last Friday was rained out, so the Tigers were left with the tough task of beating a premium “big” softball team in the state.

For the majority of the game, the Tigers were up to the task. Camdyn Bassett got the start on the mound and was limiting the potent Indian bats to start the game. She ended up going 4 1/3 innings while allowing just four hits on four strikeouts. 

The Indians scored their first two runs of the game in the top of the third inning, but Troup was able to halve the deficit in the bottom of the very same inning. Haley Kitchens got the only hit for Troup on the evening when she laced a triple to right field that drove Kaylee Cardwell home for the first Tigers run of the new season.

Unfortunately for the home team, they lost control of the game late, allowing six runs in the fifth and an additional run in the sixth. 

It was not the opening the Tigers wanted, but it was a chance to test themselves against a high quality team. Troup had six girls start on Tuesday that were not a regular part of the starting lineup last year — Zoe Graham, Haley Kitchens, Kaitlyn Smalley, Patience Watkins and Hadilee Arnold. Keller saw the most playing time last year and will see her time ramp up accordingly this season. It started on Tuesday when she saw 1 2/3 innings in relief on the mound. 

Troup starts the season 0-1 but will get a chance to rebound right away when the Tigers host the Tigers of Harris County on Wednesday.