IWA may host conference softball tournament

Published 2:57 pm Wednesday, May 4, 2011

ISLE OF WIGHT—With only two games remaining in the regular season, Isle of Wight Academy could host the Metro Conference softball tournament next week.

The Lady Chargers are in first with an 8-0 conference record and could host all rounds of the tournament, which starts Tuesday, May 10. IWA needs to clinch the top seed with games against Alliance Christian and Broadwater Academy remaining. The top two seeds receive a first round bye in the tournament.

The Lady Chargers are already slated to host the championship round of the tournament because it’s on a rotating basis.

Coach Chris Hooper said the team would prepare for the post season by working on tough in-game scenarios during practice.

“We are trying to make situations in practice harder then ones they face in a game,” he said. “We’re trying to cover weak spots. We are focusing on weak spots and making them strengths.”

In action from Monday, pitcher Shelby Jurewicz struck out eight en route to an 8-0 victory over Atlantic Shores Christian School.

The sophomore pitched a complete game shutout and gave up six hits to improve her record to 4-0 on the season.

The win was an improvement defensively for the Lady Chargers after they gave up eight runs in a previous win against the Virginia Beach school.

“Our defense is near where we’d like it to be,” Hooper said Wednesday.

Bailey Key went 2-for-3 from the plate, scoring a run, and Brooke Small went 3-for-3, scoring two runs.

Isle of Wight had three earned runs and scored on numerous Atlantic Shores errors.

IWA is 10-1 on the season.