PHOTO BY BRIAN HOFFMAN
The old saying goes you can’t lose if the other team doesn’t score, and the Salem High softball team is proving that to be true. The Spartans shut out the opposition for the seventh time in the past eight games on Tuesday as they beat Patrick Henry, 15-0, to improve to 7-3 on the season.
It’s been quite a ride for the Spartans, who gave up 24 runs total in two losses to start the season. Since then Salem has given up one run in eight games, a 1-0 loss to William Byrd ironically enough. The Spartans have won their last six games by shutout and have outscored the opposition 50-0 over that span.
On Tuesday at the Moyer Complex Cora Grace Sparger gave up three hits and fanned eight Patriots in four shutout innings as Salem won by slaughter rule. Caitlin Wells was three-for-four with four runs scored and Evie Van Liew was two-for-three with four runs batted in. Olivia Crosswhite was two-for-two.
Last Thursday at Moyer Salem shut out Northside, 10-0, as Sparger and Crosswhite combined to pitch the shutout. Wells had three hits, Piper Furmage and Anne Crew had two each and Van Liew drove in a pair.
On Friday, again at home, Cora Robinson took the ball and whiffed 14 in a 7-0 shutout of Christiansburg. Wells and Furmage drove in two runs each in the win.
The Spartans put their streak on the line at Blacksburg yesterday but results were too late for publication. They’re at Pulaski County Friday for a big River Ridge District game.
