Members of the Lancaster High School varsity softball team members, from left, are (front row) Kelli Tignor, Brittany Jones, Brook Reed, Brooke Hudnall, Paige Pittman and Katherine Keyser; (back row) Mikayla Meadows, Arkasia Sutton, Amber Cutting, Casey Clarke, Caroline Merryman, Cameron Brent and Samantha Randolph. Photo by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi

Members of the Lancaster High School junior varsity softball team members, from left, are (front row) Nancy McClain, Allison Savoy, Emily Haydon, Alexis Reed, Emma Kane and Shelby Barnett; (back row) assistant coach Kevin Beane, Sarah Tate, Skylar Dixon, Tyler Martin, Le’Aira Kelly, Loren Moore, Alexis Clayton, Kelly Montgomery and coach JW Sawdy. Photo by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi

After losing by a run, 6-5, to West Point in the first game of the season last Thursday, Lancaster slaughter-ruled Middlesex, 15-3, in five innings on Friday.

Senior returner Brooke Hudnall struck out two, walked two and allowed five hits in five innings against West Point. Hudnall went 2-for-4 to lead the Lady Devils at the plate.

Lancaster was down by two in the top of the seventh and got a run from senior Casey Clarke before stranding runners on first and third to end the inning for the loss.

Clarke got the win for Lancaster Friday, fanning six Middlesex batters, walking one and giving up four hits.

Hudnall had a big day at the plate for Lancaster, going 3-for-4 with two triples and an in-the-park homer. She had four RBIs and four runs scored.

Clarke went 1-for-4 with a triple for two RBIs and a run and sophomore Brook Reed was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Senior Paige Pittman batted 1-for-4 with a run and RBI.

Hudnall, a four-year veteran on the mound, will be coach Dave Zeiler’s starting pitcher, but three-year veteran Clarke will also get considerable time. Freshman Mikayla Meadows also pitches.

Hudnall, Clarke and Pittman are three of only five returners from last year’s fourth-place district team. Junior Brittany Jones returns to start behind the plate and Pittman is a utility player who’ll get time in both the infield and outfield. She also pitches.

Senior Amber Cutting returns to play in the infield and junior Cameron Brent is back to play in the outfield.

Also playing in the infield are sophomore Kelli Tignor and juniors Katherine Keyser and Samantha Randolph.

Joining Brent in the outfield will be sophomores Brook Reed and Caroline Merryman and senior Arkasia Sutton.

“We should have a good year,” said Zeiler. “We’re solid with a pretty good defense if we can minimize our mistakes. And we’re hitting well compared to last year.”

Lancaster will be at home this weekend when the Lady Devils host Middlesex at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Dreamfields near Kilmarnock. They will host West Point Tuesday, March 26. All of Lancaster’s home games are held at Dreamfields at 5 p.m.

Junior varsity

Loren Moore picked up a pair of wins for the JV Lady Devils, who got by West Point, 9-6, in the season opener last Thursday and beat Middlesex, 11-2, last Friday.

Moore, a freshman graduate of the Lancaster Middle School team, is coach JW Sawdy’s starting pitcher. Moore also had a triple against the Chargers.

Sawdy returns only three on his JV team and suits up nine newcomers, most with middle school experience.

Freshman returner Alexis Reed is back to catch, while freshman Emma Kane starts at first base. Freshman Tyler Martin will also play first base.

Starting at second is freshman returner Skylar Dixon and freshman newcomer Nancy McClain will start at short. Freshman Allison Savoy will start at third with freshman Emily Haydon also seeing time on third.

Adding experience to the outfield will be sophomore returner Kelly Montgomery in left field. Sophomore Le’Aaira Kelly will start in center field and freshmen Alexis Clayton and Shelby Barnett will both see time in right.

“For a group of mainly ninth-graders, I think they are doing real well,” said Sawdy. “I think they’ll just improve as the season goes along. We have to work on making the routine plays and running the bases better.”

Lancaster’s JV team will also host Middlesex this Saturday at Dreamfields at 5 p.m.

VARSITY SOFTBALL

March 23 Middlesex

March 26 West Point

March 28 Greenbrier Christian

April 5-6 Lancaster Tournament

April 9 Mathews

April 11 at Rappahannock

April 16 Essex

April 18 at Colonial Beach

April 23 Washington & Lee

April 26 at Northumberland

April 30 Rappahannock

May 2 at Essex

May 7 Colonial Beach

May 9 at Washington & Lee

May 14 Northumberland



JUNIOR VARSITY SOFTBALL

March 23 Middlesex

March 26 at West Point

April 9 at Mathews

April 11 Rappahannock

April 16 at Essex

April 18 Colonial Beach

April 23 at Washington & Lee

April 26 at Northumberland

April 30 at Rappahannock

May 2 Essex

May 7 at Colonial Beach

May 9 Washington & Lee

May 14 Northumberland