By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

BOONVILLE — No one hit any balls out of the park this time, but Starmount softball players did do plenty of hitting all over the park in a 12-0 win against North Wilkes on Tuesday night.

Becca Aplin and Chelsea Varner both recorded triples. Jessica White stroked two doubles, while Brittany White, Courtney Groce and Sydney Caudle each had one double as part of a 13-hit attack. The game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Starmount hit three home runs in a game at East Wilkes on Friday. The bats stayed hot against another Wilkes oppponent, pushing the Rams record to 9-1 overall and 7-1 against Mountain Valley 1A/2A opponents. North Wilkes dropped to 1-6, 1-5 MVAC.

“Their starting pitcher (Ashley Madison) was throwing harder than what we’ve been seeing lately, even the girls made a comment about that,” Starmount coach Heather Courts said. “In a game like this, you’ve got to make sure you take care of business and not take anybody lightly.”

Starmount pushed one run across in the first inning, then exploded for nine in the bottom of the second.

Courtney Groce picked up her ninth pitching win of the season. Groce and Aplin combined to throw a two-hitter. Kayla Church and Autumn Elledge had the Vikings only base knocks of the evening.

Jessica White and Nichole Hutchens each finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. White scored twice, while Hutchens crossed the plate once. Varner was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

The Rams will make their annual trip to West Virginia to play in a showcase hosted in Courts’ hometown. Starmount will play three games, one Friday and two Saturday.

Next week brings a non-conference date against defending 1A state champion East Surry.

“This will be good because we need a good check,” said Courts, whose team has only lost to Forbush this season. “We should really get a dose of reality next Tuesday against East Surry.”

The rematch with Forbush will be April 20 in East Bend.