Menchville’s win creates PD logjam
Three teams tied for first in district
Menchville defeated Gloucester 3-1 in Peninsula District baseball Thursday, creating a three-way tie for first atop the district standings. Bethel defeated Woodside 3-2 Thursday, joining Menchville and Gloucester with league-best 11-2 records.
Menchville rode the pitching arm of senior Tyler Gorbett (7-1) and a solid defense, avenging a 3-0 loss to the Dukes on Tuesday. Gorbett pitched a three-hitter and struck out 11. He was backed by a Monarchs defense that didn’t commit an error and turned two double plays.
Gorbett gave the Monarchs a 1-0 lead in the first inning, when he walked and stole second before advancing on a Dukes error and then stealing home. Jayden Vaughan drove in the Monarchs’ other two runs, one with a double in the second and the other with an infield grounder with the bases loaded in the sixth.
“It was very big to win today because we wanted to be tied for first place,” Gorbett said. “We also needed a win to help us (for seeding) for the playoffs coming up.” — Marty O’Brien
Grassfield softball team wins in extra innings
Emma Joy drew a game-ending, bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning, giving No. 2 Grassfield a 5-4 softball victory over No. 8 Great Bridge.
Joy was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Her walk scored Bailey Murphy, who also was 2 for 4. Emma Zieg (12-1) was the winning pitcher, striking out four in five innings.
Baseball
Marcel Whitfield, Nate Chown and Max Kuhle combined for five hits, four runs and four RBIs to lead top-ranked Ocean Lakes to an 11-1 victory over Landstown. Max Kuhle (5-1) picked up the win as the Dolphins improved to 13-3.
Kyle Sparks struck out 10 in a complete-game shutout as Kempsville defeated Salem 3-0 in the Beach District. He added three hits and two RBIs.
Nate Barttels, Luke Bosher and Jake Genzler each had two hits, and Hunter Bosher hit a threerun homer as No. 2 First Colonial shut out Beach District opponent Green Run 15-0.
Graham Fitzwater pitched a perfect game through six innings and picked up a complete-game victory and Ethan Hirschfeld had two hits in Norfolk Collegiate’s 6-4 victory over Norfolk Christian.
Softball
Tegan Gabrielse struck out eight in four innings and hit her third home run of the season as No. 4 Hickory defeated Oscar
Smith 9-1. Courtney Hughes added a grand slam in the fourth inning to lead the Hawks.
Aniyah Michalak went 3 for 3 and pitcher Skylar Rosenbalm gave up only two hits and no runs as Green Run took down No. 9 First Colonial 3-1.
Taylor Baranowski hit a game-tying RBI double and Cameron Blakeslee drove her home with a game-winning, walkoff triple as Denbigh outlasted Hampton 11-10. Baranski struck out seven and picked up the victory and Blakeslee finished with three RBIs.
Boys tennis
Nicolas Crespo, Zachery Beckner, Jared Kensick, Matthew Wornom, Gus Alston and Jacob Dunster won for the Tigers in singles as Tabb continued its control of the Bay Rivers District, beating Poquoson 9-0. Tabb already has beaten teams such as Grafton and Jamestown
Girls tennis
Kayla Kennedy and Cala Jackson both won their singles and their doubles matches to help Great Bridge beat Grassfield 7-2.
Girls lacrosse
Kendall Coss scored six goals as Catholic beat Norfolk Collegiate 19-8, securing the Crusaders’ spot as the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools regular-season champions,
Girls soccer
Charlotte Petchel scored in No. 13 Hickory’s 1-0 victory over Oscar Smith.