Central High School’s varsity softball team has started the 2017 season with a 4-3 record, bookending its three losses with back-to-back wins.

“I am very pleased with their performance,” Lady Chargers Head Coach Karen McGrath said of her players. “We are hitting better as a team this year.”

She noted that the team batting average is more than .360.

Last week, Central went 2-0, defeating host Sussex Central High School 23-0 on Monday.

Focusing on the Lady Chargers’ 11-3 road victory Thursday against Bluestone High School, McGrath said her team played quite well.

“We hit well and played great defense,” she said, adding that there were no defensive errors. “We worked our way out of defensive jams several times. We were aggressive on the bases.”

Pointing to hitting and defense as the deciding factors in the win, McGrath said Central sophomore Emma Hart went 4-for-4 at the plate, and freshman Sorie Scott scored all three times she was on base.

The coach said Scott leads the team in stolen bases so far this year.

In the circle, junior Hailey Bayne pitched all seven innings, throwing 17 strikeouts.

“She has 83 strikeouts so far on the season and 19 walks,” McGrath said, also noting that Bayne has allowed only 22 hits and 10 earned runs. “So far, her earned run average is 1.6.”

McGrath said that moving forward, “We need to continue to hit the ball and play consistent defense.”

The Lady Chargers hosted undefeated Goochland High School on Tuesday.

“On Thursday, we face Amelia (County High School) who has been hitting well and only has one loss so far on the season,” McGrath said.

That game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Amelia.