By Rick Wash
Special to the News-Herald

Making a run for the district playoffs, the King’s Fork Lady Bulldogs helped their cause last week by shutting out cross-town rival Nansemond River 7-0.

The game started off well for the Bulldogs with freshman Pitcher Sydney Wash fanning the first three batters. By the bottom of the second, the game was still knotted up 0-0, but the Bulldogs were able to put a run on the board, sparking a momentum shift.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Bulldogs added three more runs when Ashley Roten laid down a perfect bunt and used her speed to get on base. Autumn Vick followed with a single, and Taylor Davis hit a shot to left field that drove in two runs. Monica Logwood followed with a single that drove in Davis to take a 4-0 lead, but the game was far from over.

During the next two innings, the Bulldogs kept the shutout going with sound pitching and great defensive plays, highlighted by senior shortstop Logwood, who made a great mid-air catch of a pop-fly blooper behind second base and junior left fielder Autumn Vick, who threw a laser from left field to first base that beat the runner for the out.

The score remained 4-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when senior catcher Davis, who went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and three RBIs, hit a solo shot that hit the top of the fence and bounced over in dramatic fashion, bringing Bulldogs fans to their feet. However, the Bulldogs weren’t done yet. The next batter, Logwood, hit another solo shot off of Warriors pitcher Sydney Glover that cleared the fence, bringing her teammates out to home plate again in a celebratory welcome.

Logwood finished with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Freshman Shaina Holland collected a walk prior to the pitching change by the Warriors. Holland had scored with a textbook slide-by at home plate after senior center fielder Megan Blythe knocked her in.

Wash finished with a three-hit, seven-strikeout shutout, and the Bulldogs stayed on pace to hold onto fourth place in the Southeastern District.

On Friday, the Lady Bulldogs took on Indian River during Senior Night for King’s Fork, winning 13-4.

The Lady Bulldogs traveled to Hickory on Tuesday to take on the top-ranked Hawks and continued their winning streak, beating Hickory 1-0.