Gloucester High School varsity softball players will open the 2016 season with a four-game week, pending weather conditions. 

The Dukes are scheduled to play at Kecoughtan Tuesday and at Lancaster Wednesday before hosting Woodside Friday and going to Indian River on Saturday. The Lancaster game has a 5 p.m. start, the games with Kecoughtan and Woodside begin at 4:30 and the Indian River matchup is at noon.

The Gloucester girls went 19-2 in 2015 and captured the Conference 10 championship with a 3-2 win over Hickory, the eventual state runner-up. The Dukes saw two starters graduate and bring back a host of returnees for the 2016 season.

Leading the returning players is senior pitcher Morgan Haywood who was 16-2 last year and the 5A South Region Player of the Year. Senior Macy Robbins, a first-team all-conference selection in 2015, will move from left field to center. Second-team utility selection Jessica Hogge, a sophomore, will play at one of the corner outfield spots.  ...