The Preston Lady Pirates continued their strong start to the season with a sweep of Stroud, winning 17-1 and 16-5 in a Tuesday doubleheader.
In the first game, the Lady Pirates exploded for seven runs in the opening inning, fueled by a combination of timely hits, doubles, and an error by Stroud. Olivia Beaver, Josie Cope, and Ashleigh Hurt contributed key RBIs in the early surge. Taylan Starr’s two home runs – one in the second inning and another in the fourth – highlighted the offensive firepower. Starr also excelled on the mound, pitching five innings of shutout ball while striking out 12 and allowing just one run on three walks.
The second game mirrored the first in intensity, with Preston scoring three runs in the opening inning and putting the game out of reach with a six-run fifth inning. Starr continued her dominant performance, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a home run in the fifth and an RBI double in the sixth. Josie Cope provided strong pitching support in game two, tossing seven innings while striking out six and allowing five runs.
Preston’s offensive output was well-distributed, with contributions from Beaver, Kynlee Martin, Sophia Bunner, and Starr. The Lady Pirates’ speed on the bases was also evident, with a total of 12 stolen bases across the two games. The team played error- free baseball in both contests, highlighting defensive consistency.
The sweep reinforces Preston’s status as a leading contender in county softball this season, demonstrating balance between pitching, hitting, and base running.
— Preston Game 1 Stats
• Hits: 16
• RBIs: Starr (4), Beaver (4), Martin (4), Hurt (2), LeBlanc (2)
• Pitching: Starr – 5 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 12 K, 3 BB — Preston Game 2 Stats
• Hits: 20
• RBIs: Starr (4), Beaver (2), Bunner (2), Martin (2)
• Pitching: Cope – 7 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 6 K, 2 BB
• Stolen Bases: 12 across both games
• Errors: 0
