Senior Night 2026 was a night that no one will soon forget. On Thursday, the Lady Rams softball program honored its two seniors, Christina Meyer and Paige Gamby, as they celebrated the culmination of their high school softball careers vs the Miller City Wildcats.

What unfolded in the bottom of the second inning felt straight out of a Disney movie.

But first, Madison Spangler put Tinora on the board with a two-run homer in the first inning after Zoe Billings singled. It was Spangler’s 16th homer of the season and gave Tinora a 2-0 lead.

Getting her only at bat of the season in the bottom of the second inning, Paige Gamby saw her second pitch and sent it over the right field fence for a solo homerun, boosting the Lady Rams’ lead to 3-0. Gamby, a talented three-sport athlete headed to Malone University in the fall, had missed her senior season due to injury.  Not a dry eye was left as Gamby walked around the bases, her teammates awaiting at the plate to mob her as she crossed the plate for the only time this season.

Tinora continued to press, adding two more runs in the inning to extend the lead to 5-0. Christina Meyer, the other senior, singled and advanced to second on a well-executed bunt by Lexi Baldwin. After Miller City starter Karlee Gilgenbaugh recorded two outs, Tinora’s leadoff hitter, Zoe Billings, walked. Lexi Rios followed, driving a double to right field that brought home both Billings and Meyer.

Miller City came alive in the top of the third, scoring six runs off Tinora starter Zoe Billings to take a 6-5 lead. Maddie Barlage reached first on a dropped third strike, while Kierra Ruhe quickly followed with a single. Ava Reichley’s sacrifice fly plated Barlage, who became Miller City’s first run. Two more runs crossed home due to a Tinora infield error, scoring Alivia Palmer and Sophia Ruck, both of whom had singled earlier in the frame. With the score now 5-3, Miller City kept the pressure on, tacking on three additional runs to seize the lead.

Not to be outdone, the Lady Rams responded with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth. Lexi Baldwin’s leadoff single started the rally; she was soon followed by a hit from Nahla Flanary. When Zoe Billings delivered, Tinora posted three straight singles off Gilgenbaugh, loading the bases. Lexi Rios then cracked a two-RBI single, propelling Tinora to a 7-6 advantage. With Madison Spangler intentionally walked—the first of three such occasions—the bases were loaded for Ellie Guilliam, who, pinch-hitting for Gamby, grounded a ball that resulted in three runs on an infield error. Tinora now held a 10-6 lead after four.

Miller City scored twice in the fifth to narrow the gap. Payton Michel reached on a dropped third strike, advanced with Kristin Dukes on a walk, and both moved up on a fielder’s choice. A walk to Maddie Barlage loaded the bases, and Dukes and Callie Tove scored to cut the Rams’ lead to 10-8.

The Rams answered in the bottom of the fifth, tacking on two more to push their lead to 12-8. With two outs, Zoe Billings worked a walk; Lexi Rios then reached on an error. For the third time, Madison Spangler was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Karly Carpenter, whose single plated both Billings and Rios to widen Tinora’s margin.

Miller City tallied two in the sixth. Sophia Ruck and Ava Reichley singled and both scored on a Dukes single, but Billings ended the threat, holding Tinora’s 12-10 lead.

In the seventh, Miller City got one baserunner as Clara Verhof reached on a dropped third strike, but Billings retired the Wildcats for her sixth win.

Miller City dropped to 11-6. The Wildcats will host Kalida on Monday.

Tinora improves to 7-15. Tinora will travel to Antwerp on Friday in its final GMC game of the season.

Both seniors, Christina Meyer and Paige Gamby, earned the Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game award. Congratulations, ladies—your impact on the program will last forever.

Top three pics: Sarah Bryant

Watch it back below:

Paige’s homerun below: