Varsity, JV softball mark wins
PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography
Dalton JV centerfielder Matea Martinez scoops the ball to make a play.
Dalton JV softball player Savannah Wenger looks to make a play.
By ARIEL STAHLER
Gazette & News sports writer
Dalton High School’s varsity softball team earned its first win of the season when the Lady Dawgs shut out Smithville. They defeated the Smithies later in the week before losing to Louisville to end the week.
Dalton hosted Smithville Apr. 12 and the Lady Dawgs shut them out 10-0 in six innings for their first win of the 2022 season. Both teams remained scoreless until the fourth inning when the floodgates opened for seven Dalton runs. Piper Cannon, Vanessa Swartzentruber, Joey Reynolds, Chloe Simmons, Lexi Vazquez and Josslyn Reynolds all had RBIs in the inning. In the sixth inning, Lauren Falb led off the inning with a single for her first varsity hit and Dalton went on to add three more runs when Simmons sent one runner home with an RBI single and Vazquez followed up with a 2-RBI double.
Cadence Casto only gave up three hits during her complete game performance and she struck out six Smithies.
The Lady Dawgs continued their dominance over Smithville when they topped the Smithies 15-2 April 14 on the road. Vazquez rocketed a grand slam in the first inning and Ava Fivecoat had an RBI-double to give Dalton a 5-0 lead. The Lady Dawgs added four more runs in the top of the second, which was punctuated by a 2-run single from Fivecoat. Smithville got on the board with one run in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third, Vazquez singled in a run and Cannon drove in two more with a double. The Smithies added another single run in the fourth inning. Vazquez sent the ball over the centerfield fence for a 3-run home run to officially secure the win.
Fivecoat was the winning pitcher. She gave up two earned runs on four hits during her complete game. She issued three walks and recorded eight strikeouts.
Dalton was shut out by Louisville 10-0 April 15. Vazquez doubled while Joey Reynolds, Amber Jager and Swartzentruber all singled.
Girls JV softball
Dalton’s JV softball team defeated Smithville 13-0 April 13.
The JV team’s luck continued and they defeated Louisville 30 to 12 Friday.
Follow Ariel on Twitter @AStahlerDGKNews
