The Mathews High School JV girls’ softball team notched victories in its pre-season scrimmage against New Kent and its regular season debut against the Essex Trojans on Friday.

In the tune-up game against New Kent on March 13, the Lady Devils started out strong with four runs in the first inning and six more runs in the second inning.

At the bottom of the fourth, Mathews led 10-2. A New Kent rally closed the gap to 10-8 before the Lady Devils finally shut them down by a 13-9 margin.

In Friday’s opener against Essex, tight defense and solid pitching spelled the difference in the 4-1 win. Heimirich scored the first run of the game when Bauby knocked her in.  It was a slow scoring game with both teams going into the fifth inning tied 1-1, Schlosshan hit a sacrifice fly deep into center field which allowed Jackson to come home giving the Lady Devils the lead.   Haydon and Locey followed up with their own steals at home in the sixth inning bringing the final score t...