Having weathered a difficult season so far, the King’s Fork High School softball team began to show what it is made of on Monday.

After previous one-run losses to respected district foes Grassfield High School, Great Bridge High School and Nansemond River High School, the Lady Bulldogs broke through with a 4-0 shutout of host Hickory High School on Monday.

“It was good for us, real good,” King’s Fork head coach Richard Froemel said of the win.

KF out-hit the Lady Hawks 9-3 and committed no errors, while Hickory had three. Lady Bulldogs sophomore pitcher Sydney Wash had six strikeouts and shut out the Chesapeake opponent for the second straight year. King’s Fork won 1-0 last year.

Struggling offensively to start the season, the Lady Bulldogs have really turned things around. Sophomore Jasmine Holloman continued her offensive tear from last week with a 2-for-3 day and one run. Fellow sophomore Shaina Holland was also 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Froemel shifted players around and got good results on Monday, including moving Holland from centerfield to first base.

“It gives me a little bit more athleticism at first base, for bunt purposes and things of that nature,” he said. “I kept Kayla Jones and Kay’Lee Justice out in the outfield, and I took Lindsay Carlesi out of the lineup.”

While the freshman, Carlesi, did not play first base, she contributed to the changing tide of offense on the team in the seventh inning when she pinch hit for a struggling Justice.

“She lines out in the infield, but scores the run,” Froemel said. “We’re making plays when we have to now, too.”

Meanwhile, Jones and Justice inspired confidence in Froemel with their outfield play.

The win over a Hickory team that some consider to be the best squad in the area was a confidence booster for King’s Fork, but Froemel’s attitude afterward reflected a grounded approach to the future.

“We feel good about ourselves, but we know we’re vulnerable just like anybody else, and you’re only as good as your last game,” he said.

King’s Fork (5-4, 3-4) travels across town to play Lakeland High School (1-9, 1-7) tonight.