PREP SOFTBALL: Flucos ease past Warriors

PALMYRA — As one of the top teams in the Jefferson District, the Fluvanna County softball team was hoping to get out to a quick start.
“We’ve got Orange County on Friday, so it’s important for us to get a good jump in district play,” said Flucos coach John Smith.
Mission accomplished. With a win against William Monroe in their back pocket, Fluvanna is 2-0 in district play after the Flying Flucos defeated Western Albemarle, 12-0.
Pitcher Brittany Lewis threw an outstanding game, pitching four shutout innings with just one hit.
“From last year to this year she’s really stepped up,” Smith said. “I’m really happy with how she’s throwing the ball.”
The Fluvanna hurler had a perfect game going into the fifth inning before giving up a single up the middle. Lewis was quick to credit her teammates on for her performance.
Lewis also did her fair share of the heavy lifting on offense, going 3 for 4 and driving in three runs.
Kaitlin Driver also had a good day at the plate. The Fluco first baseman drove in three runs, two of which came on her second-inning triple.
Fluvanna (2-0, 2-0 JD) stormed out of the gate in the bottom of the first as the first seven batters all reached base and eventually scored.
“We’ve been jumping out on teams early,” Smith said. “We’ve been preaching to the girls to attack early. It’s better to play ahead than play catch-up.”
With Lewis pitching, and the Flucos’ defense playing on their toes, the game was all but wrapped up when Fluvanna bumped up their lead to 11 runs in third inning.
After a rocking start that included a pair of errors in the infield, the Warriors got things together defensively.
“We started off really slow,” said Western coach Fred Weinberg. “But in the last four or five innings we picked it up, and I’m pretty pleased with that.”
The Warriors (0-1, 0-1) gave up 11 runs in the first three innings but only one for the rest of the game.
Western pitcher Lindsey Gibson finished the night with seven strikeouts.
While Western came around defensively, the Warriors’ bats were quiet until the seventh inning. Western loaded the bases but was unable to drive in any of the runners.
“We’re a young team and its just going to take a little time,” Weinberg said. “This team is capable. We’ve got more talent this year than any of the last four. But we’ve got have confidence in ourselves. It’s a matter of getting the right frame of mind. It’s a tough district.”