Last October, Centralia’s softball season came to an abrupt end thanks to Macon.

The Lady Panthers lost 3-2 in districts then but gained some retribution on Monday with a 5-4 walk-off victory in their home opener. The reigning Clarence Cannon Conference district champions defeated Macon (1-1) after scoring four runs in the seventh inning.

After a hot start over the weekend in the William Chrisman tournament, Madi Johnson capped her 3-for-3 night with a home run to lead off the seventh inning. The Lady Panthers (4-2) took advantage of two errors — including one on Claire Brinkman’s ground ball that tied the game — as they mainly hit ground balls that allowed them to reach base and extend the inning. Bailey Schuering beat the throw to the plate on a ground ball hit to second by Karli Andersen to score the winning run.

Schuering was 2-for-4, and Kassena Ridgel finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI single in the seventh inning. 

Jaylynn Brown pitched all seven innings for Centralia while striking out 14 and allowing five hits, three walks and one earned run. Brown ran into the most trouble during the sixth inning as she walked two and had a couple errors committed behind her but stranded a runner at third base with a strikeout.

Before falling behind 4-1 after the sixth inning, Centralia had initially tied the game in the fourth inning on a RBI groundout by Brinkman. 

Reigning all-conference pitcher Payton Weimer had seven strikeouts and two earned runs allowed on nine hits and four walks in 6⅓ innings for Macon. 

Centralia plays at Blair Oaks (2-3) at 5 p.m. today.