SHS athletics storms into states
Published 6:01 am Wednesday, June 7, 2023
- Members of the Smithfield High School softball team are, from left, Kassidy Bridges, Kayla Young, Donnetta Powell, Rachel Wells, Taniek Powell, Ashlynn Halsey, Shea Donoghue, Lindsey Gibble, Emily Johnston, Abigail Worrell, Janie Young, Grace Dodson and Katie Dodson. (Submitted photo courtesy of Elly Condit)
Not one. Not two. Not three. Make it four Smithfield High School teams advancing to “states” in spring sports competition.
The Packer baseball team, boys and girls soccer teams and softball team all made the Virginia High School League final eight — the first time in recent memory that four SHS spring sports teams have advanced to states. Three of the four won their quarterfinal games Tuesday to advance to Friday’s semifinals.
The softball team’s season ended with a 5-1 loss at Hanover in the quarterfinals. SHS, 14-10, earned its first state tournament softball berth since 2004 by finishing as the Region 4A runner-up. SHS fell to Deep Creek 4-2 in the Region 4A championship, after Ashlynn Halsey tossed a three-hitter in a 4-2 win over Grafton in the semifinals. SHS traveled to Region 4B champion Hanover in the state quarterfinals on June 6, looking to advance to the June 9 semifinals.
