South pitcher Kennedy Byrd delivers in a 5-0 shutout at Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

South Johnston’s varsity softball team took a 5-0 shutout win at rival Triton on Thursday.

“It was a good team effort,” said South Johnston coach Ashley Ennis. “Kennedy (Byrd) did an outstanding job in the circle. She had 13 strikeouts and kept them on their toes. And when they did hit the ball, we made some good plays. Lannah (Price) tracked a couple down in center field. Meagan (Worley) made a good play over at third on a hard line shot. Allie (Stewart) made a great catch over here at third.

“When they did hit it, we made the plays and then Kennedy pitched her tail off. That’s solid. And I thought we ran the bases well. When we got on, we were able to steal and move up. And then we got some solid hits when we needed them.”

Triton coach Mark Whitman said the Hawks have been struggling to hit the ball early in the season.

“That’s the bottom line,” Whitman said. “Aubree (Bass) pitched well enough to win and we’re playing good defense. We’re just not hitting the ball. It’s just a matter of they’ve got to start hitting the ball. Bottom line. We’ve got to score runs to win and if you don’t score runs, you’re not going to win. That’s all it is to it. But we’re going to be alright. We’re going to come around.”

Senior Kennedy Byrd pitched the complete game shutout for the Trojans (3-1), giving up no runs on three hits and one walk, with 13 strikeouts.

“That was the best Kennedy’s ever pitched against us,” Whitman said. “She was on tonight. Everything was working.”

Freshman Lannah Price had three hits, including a double, and two runs scored and junior Meagan Worley had two hits, including a double, one RBI and two runs scored to lead South at the plate.

Byrd had one hit and two RBIs. Tori James had a double and one RBI. Kealey Wade scored once.

Sophomore Aubree Bass pitched the complete game for the Hawks (1-3), yielding three earned runs on seven hits and three walks, with nine strikeouts.

Junior Gracie Byrd had a triple and sophomores Stephanie Davis and T.K. McLean had one hit apiece for Triton.

South scored one run in the first inning and two runs apiece in the third and sixth innings.

“That’s probably the best we’ve played as a team, to be honest,” Ennis said. “That’s what it kind of takes to come over here and win, because Triton’s going to be good and it’s always going to be a close game.”

Gracie Byrd had a triple for host Triton on Thursday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Lannah Price gets an infield single for South Johnston.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

South’s Meagan Worley drives in a run with a double.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Ashley Pope catches a third strike for the host Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

T.K. McLean gets a hit for Triton against South Johnston.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)