A successful 2017 season for Central High School’s varsity softball team came to a difficult conclusion in the Region 1A East tournament semifinals May 31.

The fourth-seeded Lady Chargers had reached the semifinals via a home quarterfinal win May 29, achieving a season goal of advancing further than last year.

Continuing their homestand in the semifinals, they fell 13-0 to surging No. 8 Luray High School, which was fresh off routing host and No. 1-seeded Windsor High School 13-4.

Central finished the season with a 15-8 record and a somewhat surprising turnaround given how the year started, according to Lady Chargers Head Coach Karen McGrath.

“We didn’t know what to expect because early in the season, we lost to some teams that we should have beat early, so we didn’t think we would end up like this to be honest with you — deep into the playoffs,” she said after the May 31 semifinal. “So we really came along and started winning the games we needed to win to get here, but we didn’t play our game today.”

Summing up what she meant by “our game,” she said, “No errors on defense and double-digit hits.”

Central committed at least three errors against the Lady Bulldogs and managed only four hits.

“Kaylee Williams had a nice hit, but then we couldn’t get anybody else on to move her around,” McGrath said.

Senior Dominique Turman-Watson recorded a hit, as did senior Brittany Dolan.

McGrath noted that freshman Sorie Scott, who had been hitting well, put the ball on the bat at one point, but the Luray outfielder made a phenomenal catch in the gap.

Lady Chargers junior Hailey Bayne threw eight strikeouts, as did the Lady Bulldogs’ pitcher.

Bayne made the All-Conference 42 first team as a pitcher, Turman-Watson made the cut as an outfielder and senior Kayla Anthony was selected as a utility player.

Making the second team was junior outfielder Kaylee Williams, sophomore third baseman Emma Hart and Scott, at shortstop.