It's all about survive and advance for several ladies softball teams in Hampton Roads.
Thirty-nine teams started their journey back in February and now four remain. Two will move on to states.
First up is Great Bridge and Kecoughtan. Wildcat pitcher Sydney Harless was on. She strikes out Sadie Sly to end the inning. Sometimes in softball you need a little luck and it was on the side of Great Bridge.
Chloe Carr hits a ball back to Maddy Morris who would throw it away and junior catcher Sydney Rup would make her pay. She deposits the Morris offering over the head of Allyson Babinack for an RBI double.
We go to the bottom of the second, with a runner on, Jenna Meeks hits a single to right. Then Cameron Strother would bunt them over, but Kecoughtan would misplay it. Bases load for Olivia Smith. She would beat out an infield hit and it's now two to nothing Great Bridge.
Then Chloe Carr would drop one over the head of Lauren Maynor that would plate two more Wildcats and they are up four to nothing. That's all Sydney Harless would need. She pitched five scoreless innings, gave up no hits and struck out seven. She even helped herself with two RBI's on the day. Great Bridge wins nine to nothing. Coach talked about just putting the ball in play.
As the sun began to set for the second game, the Gloucester Dukes hoped it wasn’t a sign that has ended their season four times before in this game. Dukes looking to strike early . Makayla Jenkins was looking to move her around and it looked good early but what a catch by Connor Gannucci to end the Dukes’ threat. Then on to the second, again the Dukes would threaten Noodle Allen with the first of her three hits in the day.
Gabby Zarichny would keep the inning going with a hit to right. Two outs now and Shelby Alto to the plate. She would leg out an infield hit and more importantly drive in a run. Zarichny would be thrown out at home trying to score
Gloucester would threaten again in the fourth. Noodle Allen with an infield hit and with runners at first and second, Tori Brown would be at the plate - but Jenna Powell would induce the ground ball out. It was still 1-0 Gloucester.
Duke pitcher Makayla Jenkins was on fire. In the heart of the First Colonial order she would get Skylar Johnston to fly out to left then strike out Meghan Barfield.
We go to the top of the sixth and Shelby Alto would leg out another infield base hit. That would bring up Makyal Jenkins and she would drive one to the right centerfield gap. Alto would miss the stop sign from coach and the Patriots relay works to perfection. They get Alto retrieving back to third to end the Dukes’ threat.
Bottom of the sixth, Maddie King would hustle up the first base line and slide into first. That would be FC's first hit and only hit of the game. Jenkins would get Johnston to fly out to right to end any type of Patriot threat. Gloucester wins 1-0 and David Lindsay gets the Gatorade bath as Gloucester advances to the States for the first time in school history.
