Halifax Academy tops Warriors 11-1 in ‘wild' softball romp

LEW HEGE, SENIOR SPORTS COLUMNIST

Halifax Academy broke open a close game with four runs in the fourth inning and went on to whip visiting St. David's School 11-1 in a game halted in the sixth inning by the slaughter rule.

Although they won the league tilt, the Vikings fell behind to start the game when the Warriors took a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

But the Vikings tied it up in the second when Brittany Traylor hit a blue dart double and went to third on an error.

Traylor then raced home on a wild pitch from Warrior hurler Haley Blankenship to knot the score.

Halifax took the lead for good an inning later when Martha Fluharty hit a bloop single and went to second on another wild pitch by Blankenship.

After getting to third on a fielder's choice, Blankenship tossed another wild pitch and Fluharty scored.

In the fourth inning, the Vikings blew the game open. Blankenship walked the bases full and Traylor scored on a wild pitch.

Ashley Sawyer raced home on a passed ball and Brittany Hamill came home on a single by Fluharty to make it 6-1.

The scoring continued for Halifax in the fifth frame. Traylor delivered a line-drive hit and advanced on a passed ball. Lauren Hilliard drew a walk and moved up on another passed ball. Caitlin Myrick then drove home both with a line drive hit and it was 9-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, both Traylor and Sawyer walked to start the stanza and advanced on yet another wild pitch.

Traylor scored on a passed ball to make it 10-1, and Sawyer went to third on the play. Sawyer then scored on a fielder's choice to make it 11-1 and end the game.

The victory improves the Vikings to 9-4, while St. David's falls to 4-8.

The Vikings will host Fayetteville Christian Friday at 6 p.m., in a twinbill with the Viking baseball team.