Bullard wins season opener on newly named Dobrinski Field

February 19, 2020

by Michelle Dillon michelle@thecherokeean.com

Photo by Michelle Dillon
Bullard Lady Panthers pose with Panthers baseball team members who had delivered a bucket of goodies for the ladies prior to the game.

The Bullard Panthers softball team paid tribute to late coach Megan Dobrinski prior to the opening of their 2020 season with the unveiling of the new field name, Dobrinski Field.

The name change was a vision spearheaded by senior softball player Jolee Dixon, who posted a petition to Change.org to gather signatures of those in support of naming the field for Dobrinski. The BISD school board eventually approved the name change.

Dobrinski, who had been diagnosed with cancer in May 2019, passed away just prior to the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. Her career at Bullard resulted in 120 wins, 35 losses and one tie.

The Lady Panthers started the season with yet another win to their credit.

The team hosted the Hudson Lady Hornets in a game resulting in 6-0 shutout.

Bullard’s Kaylee Paul and Jolee Dixon were on base in the first inning when Gabby Nichols hit a double, allowing both runners to cross home plate. The score remained 2-0 until the fourth inning, even though Hudson had a runner come home in the third inning. Officials called her out because she had failed to touch third base.

During the fourth inning, Addison Hooker got to first on a line drive just inside the third base line. Kenzie Colston’s sacrifice advanced Hooker to second. Berlynn Grossman was walked. Jolee Dixon’s infield hit sent Hooker and Grossman across the plate, adding two runs to the scoreboard. Dixon had stolen second and third while Nichols was at bat, then Nichols was walked to first. Claire Cannon knocked the ball into right field, allowing Dixon and Nichols, who had stolen second, to score.

Ariel Matula pitched five innings, striking out two batters and walking only one. Hadison Fults took the mound for two innings, striking out three and walking none.

“It feels amazing,” head coach Julie Murry stated of the first win of the season. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of these kids for the resilience they’ve shown, not just tonight, but throughout the events that have led us to this place.”