The Gloucester High School varsity baseball team incurred two tough losses in its final two regular season games, losing to the Peninsula District leading Hampton Crabbers by a single run in each contest. Though the Dukes would have undoubtedly preferred wins in their final two contests, they have still secured a spot in the regional playoffs after a 15-5 season.

Last Thursday saw the opening game in this two-game series begin with an early Hampton lead. The Crabbers plated a run in the first and two more in the second to take an early lead against the Dukes starter Kirkland Owens. In total Owens would allow five runs in the contest, but only one was an earned run as the Dukes were snake-bitten by errors.

The top of the fourth inning saw a trailing Gloucester erupt offensively. Colton Smith drove in two runners to lead the Dukes’ offense, with Hunter West and Thomas Horsley each also adding one. Kirkland Owens would help his own cause on the mound by driving in a run at the pla...