The Grafton (3-0) bats woke up after being held scoreless through the first four innings, plating four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The flurry of runs led the Clippers to a 4-1 victory at home against New Kent on Tuesday.
New Kent jumped out in front during the top of the third inning after Paige Simpson scored from third base on a wild pitch.
Jessica Koehnle and Kayla Moore started the bottom of the fifth inning with hits for Grafton. Later, with the bases loaded, Christa Hall drew a walk that scored Grafton’s first run of the game.
Shannon Hallingstad followed Hall in the batting order, grounding into a fielder’s choice that scored another run. On the next at-bat, Kayla Moore scored from third base on a wild pitch. Marika Whitlatch added to the offensive outburst by stepping to the plate and driving in the final Grafton run of the contest.
Kayley Cox struck out five batters and allowed nine hits over seven innings, earning the win in the process and moving to 3-0 on the season.
Grafton will continue its season Friday as the Clippers play a road game against Smithfield at 4:30 p.m.
New Kent: 001;000;0 — 1 9 0
Grafton 000;040;x — 4 5 1
WP: Kayley Cox (3-0)
LP: Britney LaPrade
New Kent: Paige Simpson (3-4, R), D. Eberhard (2-3)
Grafton: Kayla Moore (2-3), Marika Whitlatch (1-3, RBI)
Smithfield Shuts Out Jamestown
Jamestown batters could not find momentum against Smithfield starting pitcher Sydney Gay, who threw a no-hitter and struck out 12 batters during Smithfield’s 11-0 win at Jamestown.
The game ended after the sixth inning due to the Virginia High School League’s 10-run rule, which ends a softball game if one team leads by 10 or more runs after both teams have batted in the fifth inning or later.
Smithfield scored its 11th run in the top of the sixth inning, and Jamestown (0-3) was unable to bring the game within 10 runs in the bottom of the frame.
Gay’s only blemish on the day came in the second inning when she walked Jamestown’s Lindsey Sander, who was the only Eagle to reach base during the game.
Arianna Reynolds allowed eight earned runs over five innings for Jamestown (0-3).
The Eagles will hope to collect their first win of the season against Norfolk Christian on the road at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Smithfield: 006;023 — 11 13 0
Jamestown: 000;000 — 0 0 3
WP: Sydney Gay
LP: Arianna Reynolds (0-3)
Smithfield: Locasio (3-4), Riddle (2-4, 2 R)
Jamestown: Lindsey Sander (BB)
Tabb Defeats Lafayette in Five Innings
The Tabb Tigers scored six runs in the first inning en route to a five-inning 11-1 victory over Lafayette (0-3).
The game was cut short because of the VHSL 10-run rule.
Tabb’s batters had a successful day, recording 16 hits in the game. Amber Verstynen stole three bases for the second consecutive game and went a perfect 3-3 from the plate.
Ashley Adams and Emily Gavin each drove in a pair of runs for the Tigers.
Lafayette’s lone run came after Paola Territo hit a triple, which was followed by a fielding error that allowed her to score.
Tabb (1-2) hosts New Kent at 4 p.m. Friday, while Lafayette travels to take on Jamestown at 6:30 p.m.
Tabb: 603;02 — 11 16 2
Lafayette: 100;00 — 1 1 1
WP: Alexis Gore
LP: Julia Jones
Tabb: Emily Gavis (2-4, 2 RBIs), Amber Verstynen (3-3, 2 R, 3 SB), Ashley Adams (2-3, 2 RBIs)
Lafayette: Paola Territo (1-2, 3B, R)
Devon Smith drove in four runs during York’s 9-1 road victory over Poquoson on Tuesday.
York (2-1) scored three runs in the first inning, one run in the fifth inning and five runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Molly Rogerson drove in a run and pitched the final four innings of the game in relief of Chelsea Evans.
York hosts Bruton at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
York 9, Poquoson 1
WP: Chelsea Evans
LP: Meghan Stout
York: Destiny Martinez (2-3, 2 R), Devon Smith (2-4, 4 RBIs)
Colby Norris allowed four hits during Warhill’s 13-2 road victory against Bruton on Tuesday.
Hayley Schulz went 3-5 from the plate for Warhill (2-1), while Kelsey Sluss drove in two runs for Bruton (1-1).
Warhill will play at Poquoson at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Bruton travels to play York at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Warhill: 002; 1 0 10 — 13
Bruton: 000; 020 — 2
WP: Colby Norris
LP: Kelsey Sluss
