Valwood softball sweeps Southland Academy

Published 11:37 pm Tuesday, August 22, 2017

The Valwood softball varsity and B-team swept the Southland Academy Raiders on Tuesday afternoon with a pair of 6-4 victories.

The Valiants did most of their damage early in the varsity game. They picked up two runs in the first inning on a double by Emily Taylor and three runs in the second thanks to a two-out walk to Bri Fosdick, an error sandwiched between singles by Ansley Haskard and Taylor, and a wild pitch.

Darcee Brown started in the circle for the varsity game and went 4 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits and striking out three. 

After Southland had rallied for two runs in the fifth, Ansley Bennett came in with one out and the bases loaded and gave up only one run on a sacrifice fly before forcing a pop-up to Lindsey Browning at second base to end the threat. Bennett closed out the game allowing only one earned run on three hits in her 2 2/3 innings.

Valwood would add an insurance run in the sixth when Fosdick singled to lead off the inning, moved to second when Haskard walked, reached third on a fielders choice, and scored on Taylor’s fourth hit of the game.

Southland would pick up one more run in the top of the seventh to make the score 6-4 before Blake Barnes secured a line drive to first to end the game.

The Valiants are now 4-0 on the season, 1-0 in region play and travel to Albany on Thursday to take on region rival Deerfield-Windsor.

In the B-team game, Southland jumped to an early lead by scoring one run in the first inning. The Valiant offense was quiet until it scored three runs in the third. Mary Clare Martin capped off the offensive highlights with a fourth- inning two-run home run to center field. 

The Raiders attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the fifth, scoring three more runs before a fly ball to Kelsee Warren in right field ended the game. Anna Paulk pitched the first three innings giving up one run and Fosdick pitched the final two innings to secure the 6-4 victory.