If there were any frustrations to losing a couple of early district games, the Paradise High School softball team has found a way to get over it - get offensive.

The Lady Panthers have moved back into the thick of the playoff race and have their bats to thank for it after Monday's home game with Peaster.

They cranked out more than a dozen base hits and took advantage of multiple errors in route to a shortened 17-1 victory that ended by the mercy rule after just four innings.

After a scoreless first inning, Paradise was never quiet again. The locals littered the field with hits for the last 45 minutes of the game.

Candice McDaniel, Casey Fletcher and the rest of the team took to the offensive the rest of the way. The locals scored three times in the third inning for the only run support they needed.

They were not satisfied. The Lady Panthers followed with four runs in the third inning before racking up a season-high 10 in the fourth frame to win via the 15-run rule.

Paradise pitcher Baleigh Newman kept the Greyhounds' bats in check. The standout pitcher was solid again and picked up her third district win behind another good defensive showing from her teammates.

"Our defense has played well over the past three games," said PHS coach Karen Essig. "We have had hot bats as well as we are averaging 14 runs a game over the last three games. We are also getting great pitching from Baleigh."