- Fort Defiance's softball team defeated Buffalo Gap 18-8, powered by Sara Turner's two home runs and five RBIs.
- Wilson Memorial softball secured a 9-1 victory over Riverheads, with strong performances from Karter Fortune, Presley Southers, and pitcher Caylee Stevens.
- Fort Defiance baseball triumphed over Buffalo Gap 7-1, thanks to Noah Dulaney's 11 strikeouts and Isaac Marshall's 3-for-3 hitting with four runs scored.
SWOOPE — Sara Turner picked up the win in the circle and hit two home runs in Fort Defiance's 18-8 victory over Buffalo Gap in Shenandoah District softball Tuesday night.
"We came in here ready to go," Turner said. "Energy stayed up. We all came together. It was great."
It was Fort Defiance's (2-3, 1-0 Shenandoah) first district game of the season.
Fort jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first to take control early. In addition to Turner's homers, Olivia Newman hit a 3-run shot in the top of the third to stretch Fort's lead to 9-2. Caroline Hanger also hit a two-run home run in the sixth for Fort's final runs of the game.
Turner finished the night 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored.
"We live and die on her," Fort coach Logan Dunkum said of Turner. "She's our heart and soul on the mound."
This is Dunkum's second year leading Fort Defiance, taking the job after being an assistant at Buffalo Gap. Coming back to his former home and picking up a huge win over the Bison was special.
"It's a huge stepping stone," he said. "I told them all last year how good they were, I told them all preseason. We finally played to our full potential tonight and it showed. Gap's the top team in the district I think going into the season and we gave them everything they could handle."
Fort is at home Thursday against Rockbridge County for a nondistrict game. Buffalo Gap (4-2, 0-1 Shenandoah) is at Stuarts Draft Thursday.
Wilson softball wins
GREENVILLE — Wilson Memorial softball won its second straight Shenandoah District game Tuesday, topping Riverheads 9-1.
Karter Fortuneand Presley Southersboth had three hits for the Hornets in the win and Caylee Stevens earned the complete game win, giving up four hits and one unearned run for Wilson. Fortune also had three stolen bases for the Hornets.
Sadie Poole had Riverheads' lone RBI in the loss.
Wilson Memorial (4-2, 2-0 Shenandoah) is at home against Page County Thursday and Staunton Friday. Riverheads (1-3, 0-2 Shenandoah) is at Rocktown Thursday.
Dulaney pitches Fort to win
SWOOPE — Noah Dulaney struck out 11 batters and gave up just one unearned run in six innings Tuesday as Fort Defiance beat Buffalo Gap 7-1 in Shenandoah District baseball.
Isaac Marshall finsihed 3-for-3 with four runs scored and two RBIs for the Indians in the victory. Sophomore Carter Berry also had two RBIs for Fort.
Tripp Hanger pitched the final inning in relief, striking out the side.
Fort Defiance (1-4, 1-1 Shenandoah) is home against Rockbridge County Thursday. Buffalo Gap (4-5, 1-1 Shenandoah) is at Stuarts Draft Thursday.
Stuarts Draft girls tennis wins
STUARTS DRAFT — Stuarts Draft won five out of six singles matches in winning its fifth match in a row Tuesday, downing Staunton 7-2 in Shenandoah District girls tennis.
Rachel Liu, Isabelle Fitzpatrick, Nya Johnson, Charisse Libunao and Addison Colvin all win their singles matches for the Cougars. The doubles teams of Fitzpatrick and Johnson, and Libunao and Colvin also won.
Staunton's lone singles win came from Hayden Terry, who also teamed up with Felicity Jones to win in doubles.
Draft (6-1, 3-0 Shenandoah) is at Buffalo Gap Thursday. Staunton (0-4, 0-3 Shenandoah) is home against Wilson Thursday.
Fort blanks Gap in girls tennis
FORT DEFIANCE — Fort Defiance beat Buffalo Gap 9-0 in Shenandoah District girls tennis Tuesday.
Addyson Mooney, Clara Lambert, Camila Armendariz-Cruz, Savanna Monger, Lacie Thieberger and Maecy Frizzell all won singles matches for Fort Defiance. Thieberger and Frizzelle both won 8-0, while Armendariz-Cruz won a tight one over Gap's Sophia Donadio 9-7.
Fort's doubles winners were Mooney and Armendariz-Cruz, Lambert and Monger, and Leah Wright and Natalie Shaw.
Fort Defiance (6-0, 3-0 Shenandoah) is at Broadway Wednesday. Buffalo Gap (3-1, 1-1 Shenandoah) is at home against Stuarts Draft Thursday.
(Coaches, send results to phite@newsleader.com)
—Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand on Instagram @hitepatrick.Subscribe to usatnewsleader.com.
