Midway softball wins, 10-0, as Holmes, Dapuyen lead

by John Lucas | Mar 16, 2021 | Midway

Sydney Williams lays down a bunt for Midway on Monday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Midway’s varsity softball team opened its season on Monday by winning a 10-0 shutout in five innings over visiting East Central 2-A Conference opponent James Kenan.

“It took a little longer to get adjusted to the pitching, I thought,” said Midway coach Susan Clark. “Our bats were not as on as I wanted them to be or anticipated them being, but we came around. We put the ball in play and made some things happen.”

Senior Miranda Holmes pitched the complete game shutout for the Raiders (1-0, 1-0 ECC), giving up no runs on four hits and no walks, with 11 strikeouts.

“Miranda did a super job of hitting her spots tonight,” coach Clark said. “Her velocity was good. Miranda’s an awesome pitcher. She did her job tonight, absolutely.”

Despite battling illness, senior Jega Dapuyen went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead Midway at the plate.

“Jega’s so fast,” coach Clark said. “And she doesn’t feel well today. But she did an awesome job. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so confident with somebody leading off as I do Jega.”

Emma Clark had a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Holmes had one hit and two RBIs. Chloe Baggett had one hit, one RBI and two runs scored. Bella Bryant had one hit and one RBI. Lainey Hughes had one RBI and two runs scored. Sydney Williams had one RBI and one run scored. Rylie Williams and Maranda Byrd scored one run apiece.

Junior Emma Haze Avent, junior Rachel Blanchard, freshman Anna Morgan Armstrong and sophomore Grace Sheffield had one hit apiece for the Tigers (0-1, 0-1).

Midway sent the entire order to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, scoring five runs on two hits, one walk and two errors.

The Raiders added four more runs in the fourth on four hits, an error and a passed ball.

Byrd led off the bottom of the fourth by reaching second base on an error, advanced to third on a ground ball from Dapuyen and scored on another ground ball from Sydney Williams to end the game on the 10-run rule.

The teams meet again on Wednesday when Midway travels to James Kenan.