Known for being one of the more prolific offensive attacks at the Class 5A softball level, Crater found itself handcuffed Thursday night in a nonleague showdown at South Medford.

The Comets were coming off a strong doubleheader win in their season opener against Mountain View but the 6A Panthers offered up a much different look behind the pitching of senior Nicole Ledendecker and another prolific day at the plate in a 10-1 triumph.

South Medford (2-1) roared out to a 6-0 lead after one inning of play — with home runs from Brianna Turrey and Jayden Cote highlighting the surge — and never looked back on their home diamond.

“That was kind of fun to see a big inning with just shot-shot-shot like that,” said Panthers head coach Miranda Gillaspie.

Ledendecker and Kaycee Hudson got things moving with consecutive one-out singles, then Aubree Joe drove them home with a two-run single of her own. After another single by Shelby Hillyer, Turrey broke the game open with a three-run home run to bring an end to the day for Crater starting pitcher Alexis Perez.

Suzy Foster was able to generate a groundout to slow the momentum but only slightly, as Cote ripped her own solo home run to make it 6-0.

That lead proved to be plenty for Ledendecker, who authored a career performance with 15 strikeouts and only three hits and two walks allowed by the Comets (2-1).

“She kind of kept them off balance and she really hit her spots,” said Gillaspie of the right-hander. “She worked ahead in the count, and that was the big thing. She was just nice and relaxed and we were able to obviously put some runs on the board early, which I think helps your pitcher because you can go out there relaxed and just hit your spots. She was just super poised, I’m super proud of her.”

The Panthers led 8-0 when Crater was finally able to scratch out a run, using a two-out single by Grace Aldrich and an ensuing RBI double to right-center by Perez, who went 2-for-2.

Joe also hit a home run to finish 2-for-3 with three runs and four RBIs for South Medford, while Turrey was 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs and Hudson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Ledendecker, Hillyer, Cote and Sydney Butterfield each added two hits and one run scored for the Panthers, who next host Summit in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Crater 001 000 0 — 1 3 3

South Medford 620 110 x — 10 16 0

Perez, Foster (1), Stevenson (6) and Hammer; Ledendecker and Hillyer. W — Ledendecker (1-0). L — Perez. 2B — SM: Thoele, Turrey. HR — SM: Joe, Turrey, Cote.

CASCADE CHRISTIAN 4, KLAMATH UNION 2: At Klamath Falls, Cascade Christian sophomore Ashlyn Cooper allowed only three hits and one earned run with 11 strikeouts and no walks in the road victory.

Cooper also went 2-for-3 at the plate while Danika Brackett drove in two runs and scored twice for the Challengers (4-0), who also got two hits from Carsyn Sousa.

Cascade Christian 002 020 0 — 4 8 2

Klamath Union 010 100 0 — 2 3 2

Cooper and Sousa; Huffman and Russell. W — Cooper. L — Huffman. 2B — CC: Sousa; KU: Pinacho.

Baseball

SOUTH MEDFORD 3, ASHLAND 1: At Ashland, Keegan Painter’s bases-loaded, two-run single in the fourth inning was the difference for South Medford in a pitcher’s duel at Ashland.

With the score knotted at 1-all in the top of the fourth, Cooper Mitchell reached on an error to open the inning and then Grady McQuillan and Gannen Jones were each hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hitting ninth in the lineup, Painter came through with the biggest hit of the game for South Medford (2-1).

The Panthers previously scored in the first inning when Kyle Cope singled and Tristan Mallari followed with an RBI double.

Ashland (1-1) answered with a run in the second inning after Keller Bloodworth singled and later scored.

Four Panthers combined to limit the Grizzlies to three hits with nine total strikeouts and no walks allowed. Jake Lewis, Cope and Jedidiah Robertson each pitched two innings and Evan Rhoden finished in the seventh.

Jackson Rosenthal struck out six and walked one with three hits allowed in three innings, while Logan Trivette fanned seven with one walk and one hit allowed in four innings for Ashland.

South Medford 100 200 0 — 3 4 1

Ashland 010 000 0 — 1 3 3

Lewis, Cope (3), Robertson (5), Rhoden (7) and Long; Rosenthal, Trivette (4) and Albano. W — Cope. L — Rosenthal. 2B — SM: Mallari.