Chesapeake, Va. - It's game time!
The PenSouth Conference Softball Tournament is held in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Here's what happened:
Head Coach Red Lindsay on the left, talking strategy with assistant Jason Burns. It's the bottom of the second inning when senior Alissa Upton has her own approach to the game: just hit it up the middle -- and that's what she does -- the Dukes have a rally going.
After a two out walk, captain Shelby Alton has her own plan of attack -- 'hit it where they ain't' -- she takes the Braves pitcher deep to right center field, and it bounces off the Indian River sign. The double drives in two runs and the Dukes have an early lead.
It's the bottom of the fourth. The bases are loaded for Kaleigh Arnett; she would drive the 2-2 pitch to left center. Two more runs would cross the plate and the Dukes are up five to one on the Braves.
Those five runs would be more than enough for pitcher Morgan Haywood. She was in command all day as she secures her 14th win of the year. The Gloucester Dukes advance to next week's regional tournament.
The second game of the afternoon featured the defending 5A state champs, Great Bridge Wildcats, against their cross-town rivals, the Hickory Hawks.
The Hawks get going early - lead-off hitter Sarah Martin with the infield hit. Then, two batters later, Lauren Duff comes to the plate. She would hit what would look like a long foul ball out, but watch as the ball goes off Bryce Skyova's glove and somehow gets back into fair territory and over the wall. The umpires twirl the finger signaling a home run. Duff would touch them all for her ninth homer of the year. It would give the Hawks a two-to-nothing.
Lauren Beth O'Conner would add a third run with this fly in the fourth inning. The Hickory Hawks advance to their thirteenth straight regional tournament after taking down the Wildcats three to nothing.
