The Gloucester High School varsity softball team suffered three losses this past week, picking up only one win.
The Lady Dukes fell to York, 12-11, last Wednesday, March 25, at home. Gloucester squandered its 9-5 lead over the Falcons, giving up six runs in the final two innings. Gloucester was able to cut the lead to 12-11 in the seventh inning by scoring two runs. The team left the bases loaded as the third out was made. The Lady Dukes walked 17 times and still managed to come up short.
Tessa Carteret led GHS offensively with two hits for four at-bats with a double and two stolen bases. Kyndall Sales also contributed four RBIs.
New Kent
Gloucester hosted New Kent last Thursday, where the team fell to the Trojans, 8-3. The Lady Dukes committed four costly errors, leading to unearned runs.
The Lady Dukes left nine base runners in scoring position throughout the game as they could not get a big hit at the right time. Gloucester had the bases loaded twice, but came up empty both times.
Winnie Carlton had three hits for three at-bats with an RBI, while Alexis Dishman recorded two hits for three at-bats and scored two runs. Ava Smith also contributed an RBI single. On the pitcher’s mound, Harper Hardaway struck out seven Trojan batters.
Poquoson
Gloucester suffered another home loss to Poquoson, falling to the Islanders, 11-7. The Lady Dukes found themselves in a quick 3-0 deficit after the first inning. The gap grew to 7-0 after the top of the fourth inning. However, Gloucester put together four hits in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 7-5.
Poquoson scored again in the fifth inning. In the bottom half, Hannah Horsley tripled and scored on an Alexis Dishman single to tighten the game to 8-6. Gloucester scored again in the sixth inning as Autumn Cookson doubled to score Hardaway.
Dishman led Gloucester with three hits for three at-bats and two walks. Horsley contributed a double and a triple, while Cookson added a single, double and two RBIs in the loss.
Mathews
Gloucester picked up its sole win of the week Tuesday afternoon as it traveled to face Mathews. The Lady Dukes defeated the Blue Devils, 8-0.
Hardaway achieved the first perfect game of her high school career by striking out eight batters. She threw 79 pitches on the day.
The Lady Dukes scored eight runs on six hits. Cameron Palas had two hits for four at-bats, hitting a double and two RBIs. Addy Keister added a single and an RBI in the fifth inning, while Horsley contributed an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Gloucester’s second game against Poquoson, which was originally scheduled for Friday, has been moved to Tuesday, May 12.