Gloucester High School varsity softball players are scheduled to open the season at home, weather permitting, on Tuesday against Woodside and play Lancaster at GHS on Wednesday. The Dukes will conclude the opening week at Denbigh next Friday. All three games have a 4:30 p.m. start. 

Gloucester returns 10 players from last season’s 17-4 team, including six All Conference 10 performers. Morgan Haywood, a first-team selection last year, returns to the pitching mound and will be backed up by Kalen Tobin.

Haywood, a junior, was 16-2 last season. Her battery mate will be junior Kaleigh Arnett, a second-team all-conference player last year. Jessica Hogge and Starr Patton could also see time behind the plate and in the outfield. 

Junior Tori Brown will return at first base and sophomore Nealcyn Watkins returns at third. Senior Alissa Upton, at second base, and junior Alyssa Shackleford, at shortstop, return up the middle for the Dukes. Both were named to the all-conference s...