The Gloucester High School varsity softball team had a full week of wins over the past week of gameplay.
The Lady Dukes soundly defeated the visiting Lafayette Rams, 12-2, last Wednesday, April 15. Harper Hardaway pitched a two-hitter, striking out six batters and walking one. Hardaway also added a hit and two RBIs.
Autumn Cookson had three hits for three at-bats, which included three triples, two RBIs and four runs scored. Winnie Carlton also had three hits for three at-bats, recording a double and two RBIs. Addison Keister also contributed two hits and three RBIs in the win.
Tabb
Gloucester overcame an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the Tabb Tigers, 14-4, on the road Friday afternoon. Hardaway gave up three unearned runs in the first inning, but the team rallied to give up only one more run for the rest of the game. Hardaway pitched a two-hitter, while striking out three batters.
The Lady Dukes scored seven runs in the second inning as Hardaway recorded two RBI singles, followed by RBI singles from Cookson and Tessa Carteret. Gloucester piled on three more runs in the third inning, highlighted by a long three-run home run by Cameron Palas. The Lady Dukes put the game away in the fifth inning with three runs on two hits.
Carteret led the offense for Gloucester with four hits, including a triple, while Palas, Hardaway and Hannah Horsley recorded two hits apiece.
The JV Lady Dukes also picked up a 25-9 win against Tabb Friday afternoon at home.
Smithfield
Gloucester also won against Smithfield, 20-10, on the road Monday. Hardaway picked up the victory on the pitcher’s mound. All nine hitters recorded at least one hit and one RBI each.
The Lady Dukes took the lead in the second inning as Keister singled and later scored on a Carlton sacrifice fly. Alexis Dishman then scored on a Lilly Hogan single. Gloucester then pushed the lead to 3-0 as Cookson singled and later scored on a Horsley double.
Smithfield scored six unearned runs in the third inning to take a 6-3 lead, but Gloucester came back to score seven runs in the fourth inning. This was led by RBI doubles from Cookson and Carlton. Palas and Keister also contributed RBIs for the Lady Dukes.
Gloucester gave up two runs in the fourth inning and one run each in the sixth and seventh innings. However, the Lady Dukes scored nine runs in the final three innings to secure the win.
Cookson led Gloucester’s offense with four hits for five at-bats with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. Horsley had three hits for four at-bats, recording a double and an RBI. Carteret, Keister, Carlton, Hardaway and Hogan each contributed two hits apiece and combined for 10 RBIs.
Gloucester will travel to New Kent Friday and will host Jamestown and Grafton next Monday and Wednesday, respectively. All games have a 4:30 p.m. start time.
