After two days of rain the high school softball season finally got underway last week with mixed results for the local teams. Salem shut out Glenvar, 10-0, on Thursday and split two games in the Salem Invitational Saturday. Meanwhile, the Highlanders are still looking for a win.
Glenvar was overmatched in last Wednesday’s home game against Magna Vista, losing 22-6 in five innings. The Warriors outhit Glenvar 19 to 3 with freshman Paisley Hodge, sophomore Zella Hayes and senior Kyleigh Luck each having a hit for the Highlanders.
A day later, on Thursday, Glenvar was back home to host Salem in a battle of border rivals. This one was all Salem as the Highlanders lost in five innings again, this time 10-0.
Olivia Crosswhite earned the win on the mound for the Spartans, going five innings while allowing four hits and no runs. Kayden Dalton was three-for-four at the plate and Evie Van Liew had a home run and two RBIs. Kyla Rutledge had two hits and drove in two for the Spartans.
“In our first two weeks of practice six players were lost to injury,” said Glenvar coach Lonnie Raines. “Then the flu bug also hit the team. We had to put players in spots they wouldn’t normally play and it showed. With spring break this week I hope it gives us time for some of the players to finish healing and allow them to return to the lineup.”
The Salem girls got a late start on spring break as they hosted the annual Salem Invitational at the James I. Moyer Complex Saturday. The Spartans’ first game was against Radford at 11 am and Salem jumped to a 9-0 lead before holding on for a 15-10 win.
Junior Piper Furmage drove in five runs on four hits for Salem and Van Liew hit a long home run with two girls on base. Emory Coe also drove in a run with a clutch hit and Crosswhite picked up her second win in two days, pitching three scoreless innings.
On Saturday afternoon it was Salem’s turn to feel the wrath of a strong Magna Vista team as the Warriors took a 16-0 win at the complex. Furmage and Dalton had the only two hits for Salem as Magna Vista combined to score 38 runs in two wins over Glenvar and the Spartans last week.
Next up for the Highlanders is a trip to Hidden Valley on Monday. Salem is back on the diamond next Tuesday when the Spartans host William Byrd at the Moyer Complex.
