Lady Gladiators off to good start in Hillsboro tourney with two wins on Thursday
Junior pitcher Madison Washington gets the job done against Jewitt-Leon during Italy’s second warmup game on Thursday. The Lady Gladiators hit their way to a decisive 9-2 victory. (Barry Byers)
Hillsboro — After jumping out to an early 6-0 lead over Lake Worth, the Lady Gladiators from Italy held on for a 7-6 win during the first of two warmup games on Thursday during the Hillsboro softball tournament.
In their second game against Jewitt-Leon, the Lady Gladiators blasted one hit after another to setup a 3 run home run by Madison Washington scoring Kelsey Nelson and Jaclynn Lewis to push Italy to a 4-0 lead.
The barrage continued with big hits from lone senior Paige Westbrook, Nelson, Bailey Eubank, Lewis and April Lusk, who is a solid lead-off hitter and a threat running the bases, helping Italy to pull away.
Washington pitched from beginning to end with Lillie Perry handling the catching duties throughout.
Ashlyn Jacinto made some noise with the bat as did K’Breona Davis with Britney Chambers in left field, Nelson in centerfield and Davis in right being seldom tested by Leon.
The Lady Gladiators were strong defensively when needed with Eubank chasing down a foul ball at first to make the catch for an out. Washington fielded a grounder and then threw to Perry who made the tag at the plate. Lewis covered a grounder at third and tossed it over to Eubank at first for another out for Italy.
When time expired in the fourth-inning, the Lady Gladiators had their second win of the day, 9-2 over Jewitt-Leon.
Bracket play begins today, Friday, February 28, with Italy’s first bracket game starting at 12:45 p.m.