The King’s Fork High School softball team engaged in a tense standoff with Grassfield High School on Friday night, but one run was enough to spoil the Lady Bulldogs’ season-opener as the final score was 1-0.

King’s Fork head coach Richard Froemel noted some missed opportunities late in the game, but his predominant reaction to the contest was excitement in his team’s potential this season.

“I told the girls after the game, ‘I may not look like it, but I’m more excited now than I was before the game,’” he said. “These girls are going to turn some heads. We’ve got youth on our side, and our pitching is there, Sydney’s strong.”

It would be hard to ask more of sophomore pitcher Sydney Wash, who allowed only three hits and had nine strikeouts.

The Lady Bulldogs (0-1, 0-1) will get another chance on Monday to bring the offense to life, as well, when it travels to play Western Branch High School.