The young Gloucester High School varsity softball team has lost just three players due to their graduations this month. The youthful team ended its 2021 campaign at 7-5 and earned a berth in the Division 5 Eastern Regional Tournament.

Recent graduate Leighann Harper leaves the team to start a career in the medical profession. She started at five different positions for the Dukes over her high school career and was key to the 2019 state tournament team as a first baseman. Harper hit .424 and contributed 11 RBIs during the season.

Pitcher Sierra West ended the season with a 5-5 pitching record and will head to Bryant and Stratton College in the fall to play softball for the Hawks. Left fielder Elaina Ward, who hit .473 with 12 RBI after missing time early in the season due to an injury, will attend James Madison University in the fall.

Hailey Hardaway led the Dukes in the 2021 condensed season with 15 RBI. Gloucester also started four freshmen this spring with Kaia Hutton, Kimber Rainey, Grace Saunders and Grace Sinko Vanliew hitting a combined .426. Saunders also enjoyed a 10-game hit streak to begin the season.

Also, Sadie Bowden had a solid season for the Dukes, shuffling between second base and short stop while going 1-0 in her only start as a pitcher.

Gloucester will return a solid group for next season and will gain a few players from the junior varsity program. “Coach (Jason) Burns and I will miss our group from this year that will not be returning, but the two of us are looking forward to next year and beyond,” head coach Red Lindsay said.