The Gloucester High School varsity Dukes are 4-1 in Peninsula District baseball standings going into this week’s action, along with Menchville and Hampton. The Dukes’ only loss came in a 4-3 game with undefeated district leader Woodside on March 24.

Gloucester defeated visiting Warwick, 9-4, on March 29. The Raiders scored on a Dukes’ error in the first and added three runs in the sixth, but the rest of the game belonged to Gloucester.

Cody Shiflett led the Dukes’ effort on the mound, allowing one run on two hits and striking out three over three and a third innings. Blake Taylor and Tyler Hancock closed out the game in relief. Brody Carter, Carter Miller and Taylor each had a pair of hits for Gloucester. 

Miller had four hits in Gloucester’s 14-2 win over Bethel on March 27 and the Dukes sealed the win with eight runs in the fifth inning. Cash Watkins got the win on the mound before being relieved by Hancock. Watkins allowed three hits and two runs and struck out five over five innings. 

The Dukes tallied 14 hits in the win, with multiple hits from A.J. Hall, Aidan Carter, B. Carter and Miller. 

Gloucester and Woodside were tied, 3-3, on March 24 at GHS until the top of the fifth when Phillip Woodard singled to score the go-ahead run for the Wolverines.

Taylor took the loss for the Dukes. He went five innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits while striking out four and walking one. B. Carter went two for three at the plate for Gloucester and the Dukes were error-free in the field.

Gloucester delivered a 10-1 blow to Denbigh on March 23 thanks to eight runs in the second inning. Mathew Hudgins, Reese Oden, Watkins and A. Carter walked, Tucker Sharp and Shiflett contributed singles and Oden and Hall each had doubles in the rally. 

Watkins allowed three hits and one run over four innings and struck out nine to get the win. Hancock threw three innings in relief and recorded the last nine outs to earn the save.  

The Dukes opened the season with a 14-3 win at Heritage on March 15, thanks to eight runs in the first inning. Miller, Hudgins, A. Carter, B. Carter, Oden and Shiflett powered the big inning with RBIs.

Watkins got the pitching win, going three innings and allowing one hit and no runs while striking out seven and walking one. Kirkland Owens and Hunter West closed out the game in relief. 

The Dukes are scheduled to play at Phoebus Friday at 4:30 p.m. and at Hampton on Tuesday.