Parkville softball falls to red-hot Dundalk team

The Dundalk High School varsity softball team is on a hot streak.

The Owls have won six games in a row, starting with a 13-1 victory over Catonsville on April 20. Since then, the team has been crushing every opponent while scoring in the double digits thanks to knockout pitching, hard-hitting batters and an unforgiving first-base defense.

Last Monday, the Owls notched an easy pair of wins with back-to-back games just up the road at Patapsco High School — 12-1 in the afternoon and 19-2 in the evening.

Two days later, the Hereford Lions put up more of a fight, but Dundalk pulled through with a 12-7 victory. Senior Jayda Gilbert hit a home run and a double, bringing two runners in. Her fellow senior Oaklyn Johnson also stood out at the plate with a pair of doubles.

Johnson is also the team’s main pitcher, and struck out five batters in the game. Junior pitcher Julie Burger struck out three herself, and hit for a double while bringing a runner home.

But whenever the other team is lucky enough to get a hit against the Owls, freshman Justice Smith is quick to shut them down. In the game against Hereford, she tagged eight outs. She also hit for a double along with two runs batted in.

Then on Friday, the Owls shut out the Franklin Indians 11-0 thanks to a strong showing from the whole team: junior Kenisha Gelpi and sophomore Makayla Woods each hit for a double, Johnson hit a triple and struck out seven batters, Gilbert brought two runners in, junior Alyssa Smith hit and made a run, and Justice Smith had seven outs.

And the team brought it once again on Monday, this time to Parkville for a 20-4 win on the road. Oaklyn Johnson hit for another triple, and threw five strikeouts from the mound.

Justice Smith again got seven outs, leading the team, but sophomore Hayden Wiatrowski tagged a respectable five outs along with making three runs.

Freshman Carlie Locklear tagged two outs against Parkville and batted in a runner. She led the team in stolen bases with four.

The Owls are set to host the Landsdowne Vikings on Thursday, May 1, then on Friday they will play the Kenwood Bluebirds on the road.

Dundalk’s last game of the season will be Monday, May 6, at home versus Sparrows Point.