by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
Middlesex walked the go-ahead run across the plate then got two bonus runs on a base hit in the top of the eighth inning Monday to beat Lancaster, 7-4, in the final regular season game for both varsity softball teams.
Lancaster has played in four extra inning games this season, winning one. Despite not making the Northern Neck District tournament, the Lady Devils will advance to Region 1A play this week and were scheduled to play Northampton on May 23. The regional tournament continues May 25 and 30 with the championship game June 2 at the site of the higher seed.
Lancaster lost twice to Washington & Lee during the regular season, including once in extra innings. The Lady Devils are 5-13 overall.
Last week, Brantley Swift picked up her second win over the Lady Devils, leading Northumberland in a 14-1 slaughter over LHS. Swift pitched a no-hitter against Lancaster in their first meeting.
Ashley Sanford pitched four innings for LHS and Blair Smith three for LHS in Monday’s loss to Middlesex.
The Lady Chargers took a 3-0 lead in the first two innings with Lancaster rallying for three runs to tie in the bottom of the fourth. A 4-4 tie at the end of seven, sent the game into an extra inning when Middlesex scored three runs on three walks and two hits. Lancaster went four-up-three down in the bottom of the frame.
Rachel Valdrighi went 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored and Katherine Thomas was 2-for-4 with two runs to lead LHS at the plate.
