Welcome to Southside Daily’s inaugural rankings of the best high school softball teams in Virginia Beach. Sports reporter Joe Saade will list his top five each week based on his coverage of the local prep scene.
Ocean Lakes responded to its first loss of the season with big wins last week over First Colonial (11-6) and Hickory (3-0). The Dolphins own arguably the Beach’s top power-hitting lineup, led by Maddy Glaubke, Jessica Goldyn and Chloe Fox, and find even more ways to generate runs and keep pressure on defenses.
Kempsville displayed its balanced with a shutout performance from Shannon Buchanan and an offensive outburst in a 11-0 win against Norview on Tuesday. The Chiefs face a test against Hickory next Friday.
First Colonial had won four games in a row before its set-back loss to the Dolphins. The Patriots’ lineup, powered by Skylar Johnston and Meaghan Barfield, has produced 39 runs in their last five games, but the team is still searching for consistency from the mound.
Kellam has been on a roller-coaster ride. After handing Ocean Lakes its first loss two weeks ago, the Knights dropped two games in a row.
Bayside had lost four straight by a combined score of 26-4 before Tuesday’s 6-2 win against Kellam. Inconsistency has also troubled the Marlins.
- Ocean Lakes (9-1)
- Kempsville (8-3)
- First Colonial (5-4)
- Kellam (4-5)
- Bayside (4-4)
On the bubble:
Tallwood (6-4) — The Lions beat Oscar Smith 11-2 on Wednesday and lost 2-1 to Cox on Thursday.
Princess Anne (6-4)
