BY RYAN WEBB
Azalea vs. Shore
Shore Little League’s junior softball all-star team soundly defeated Azalea 20-0 after three and a half innings on Saturday, June 22, in the opening game of the District 8 tournament, hosted by North Accomack Little League at the Chincoteague Municipal Complex.
Lela Lusk got the start and win in the circle for Shore, pitching a perfect game that ended early due to Little League’s mercy rule. Lusk struck out all 12 batters she faced.
Shore got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after a Hayden Cornish groundout scored a run. Jordan Rae Lewis singled to score a run. A Corrin Burrell single drove in another run. Walks from Brynna Travis and Ava Webb each scored a run. Two runs scored on a Kylie Vergara single. A passed ball allowed another run to score. Bella Bono-Evans singled, scoring a run. Ryleigh Caison launched a ball past the center fielder for a two-RBI triple.
Shore added to its lead in the second. Lewis led off the inning with a base hit and was driven in by a Burrell triple to left field. Burrell scored on a single by Keely Castaneda. Travis reached base on an error by the shortstop. Webb reached base on a fielder’s choice. Both scored to cap off the scoring in the inning, giving Shore a 15-0 lead heading into the third.
In the bottom of the third, Bono-Evans led off with another hit. Miranda Smith walked, then Caison drove in a run on a single. Hayden Cornish singled to drive in another. Lewis had an RBI single, then Burrell collected her second triple of the game — this time to right field — scoring two more.
Overall, Shore compiled 17 base hits in the game, with 11 of 12 batters recording at least one hit. Lewis and Burrell were 3 for 3 on the day. Caison, Castaneda, Vergara, and Bono-Evans each had two hits.
North Accomack vs. Shore
Shore returned to the diamond on Sunday, June 23, and defeated North Accomack 15-0 after four innings.
Lusk again got the start and win, pitching a no-hitter, recording 9 Ks, and allowing two walks.
Shore scored one run in the bottom of the first on a Lewis groundout that drove in Smith. In the second, Shore scored on a passed ball to make it a 2-0 game.
In the third, Shore scored eight runs. Lusk led off the inning with a base hit. Ruby Buck had an RBI triple to right field. Bono-Evans singled to score a run. Another run scored on a passed ball. Burrell doubled, scoring two runs. Castaneda singled, scoring another. Travis tripled to drive in a run, then Webb singled to score her. Shore led 10-0 after three.
Bono-Evans led off the fourth inning with her fourth consecutive hit of the tournament. Smith earned a free pass, then Caison singled to score a run. Another run scored on a dropped third strike. Lewis drew a walk. Burell reached on a single, and Castaneda singled, driving in two runs to end the game.
Shore had 14 hits in the game. Ten of Shore’s 12 batters had at least one hit. Smith, Burrell, Castaneda, Travis, and Bono-Evans each had two hits.
Championship Game
The District 8 championship, a rematch between Shore and North Accomack, who defeated Azalea 19-9 on Monday, June 24, was played on Tuesday, June 25. Shore’s relentless offense, stellar pitching, and solid defense propelled them to another 15-0 victory after three and a half innings, securing the District 8 title for the third consecutive year.
Lusk threw another no-hitter, striking out nine and walking four. Of the 36 outs Shore recorded in the tournament, 30 were Ks by Lusk.
Shore scored early in the first inning after Caison laced a line drive over the left fielder for an RBI triple. Burrell singled to score a run. Lewis singled to score another. Bono-Evans had an RBI double to right field. Travis singled in another run. Webb singled to drive in two and made a full trip around the bases, capitalizing on some errant throws from North Accomack. Shore led 8-0 after one.
In the bottom of the second, Shore scored six runs to extend the lead to 14. Castaneda singled, scoring a run. Bono-Evans singled, driving in two runs and making her 6 for 6 in the tournament. Travis singled to score another, and Webb singled to drive in two more.
Shore scored its final run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Caison.
Shore had 18 hits in the championship game. Caison was 3 for 3. Bono-Evans, Travis, Cornish, and Webb each had two hits. All 12 batters for Shore had at least one hit.
As the District 8 champions, Shore earns a berth in the state tournament, which is being held in Portsmouth at Olive Branch Little League. Tournament play begins on Saturday, July 6.
