The Lakeland High School softball team followed up a competitive game against Nansemond River High School’s elite team on Monday with a 19-1 blowout of visiting Heritage High School on Tuesday as conference play begins in earnest.

Lady Cavaliers coach Cara Byrd was pleased to come up with a win on Tuesday, her team’s third of the year.

“It’s good for morale,” she said. “We’re just trying to work on the small things to get us prepared for King’s Fork (High School) and Nansemond River.”

Junior Tori Abel made significant contributions offensively and defensively against Heritage. She threw four strikeouts and earned the win in the circle, while also going 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks.

Freshman Maya Feldt went 2-for-3 with two walks and a run batted in, and she also spent time in the circle. Sophomore Deleah Scott went 2-for-2 with two walks.

Lakeland needed someone to take over at catcher this week, and junior Stasha Waterfield answered the call.

“She had been playing at short, and she volunteered to step up and catch, and she’s been doing a good job back there,” Byrd said.

Her first game in her new role came on Monday against the visiting Lady Warriors.

Describing what the last two games had been like at catcher on Tuesday, Waterfield said, “It’s definitely a new experience, but I’m taking it on because we need to help the team, just doing what I can to help the team and so we can move forward from here.”

The Lady Cavs fell 5-1 to Nansemond River, but kept things close until the final inning.

“I think we played very well,” Byrd said.

She praised her defense, which featured two players in new positions as freshman Alex Kinsey was taking over for Waterfield at shortstop.

The Lady Cavaliers took an early lead when on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning, Waterfield hit a home run.

“I was super-excited,” Waterfield said. “It was a great way to start off the game.”

Lakeland (3-9, 1-2) visits Phoebus High School this evening.