Two Bennetts Creek softball teams have moved on to state competition by winning their respective brackets in the District 6 tournament. The 9-10 minor softball All-Stars moved on by defeating Olive Branch 11-1 over the weekend, while the senior All-Stars held off Churchland 8-3 on Monday night.

The younger girls rolled through the tournament, winning three consecutive games by a combined score of 28-4. Anna Cain pitched the last game, and Mallory Patterson and Stephanie Maher the first two. The team will now head to Clinch River to do battle with other Virginia teams, with competition beginning July 19.

Strong pitching also helped the seniors to victory, as Sara Barber pitched a perfect game in her team’s 15-0 defeat of Cavalier Manor last Friday. On Monday, the BC girls would have to defeat Churchland, whom they narrowly defeated 5-4 on June 29.

Erica Ward scored in the top of the first for Churchland on Monday, but Kristin Bunch, Melissa Stewart, Sarah Brooks, Melissa Bjorkland and Tiffany Privette crossed the plate for BC in the bottom of the inning.

On the mound, Stewart (known as &uot;Hollywood&uot; for her habit of wearing sunglasses), set Church-land down in order in the second, and BC came back on the attack. Bunch rifled a double into right field, and Sara Barber cashed her in with a triple for a 6-1 lead.

Churchland was next to put an entry on the board, as Kathie Reeves brought Pauline Felipe home with a single in the fourth. But BC mounted a counterattack in their half, which Sarah Beverly and Bunch started off with singles.

A double steal moved both runners into scoring position, and Barber reached on an error, bringing Beverly to the plate. Moments later, Stewart lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, and Bunch came in to extend the lead to 8-2.

The girls from Portsmouth grabbed another run in the sixth, and BC went down swinging, giving the visitors one more chance.

Ward bunted for a single to open the inning. But Brooks threw her out on an attempted steal of second, and Kelly Reagan flew out to center field. Stewart then calmly notched her 11th strikeout by whiffing Leeanne Clay, and BC was headed to the state tournament, which begins July 19 in Gainesville.

&uot;I had a great defense, and I’ve been practicing every day,&uot; said Stewart. &uot;That was definitely my best game of the tournament.&uot;

To Heather Black, the outcome was clear from the start. &uot;Everybody knew we’d win,&uot; said the Nansemond River High School sophomore. &uot;Hopefully, we’ll win at state too.&uot;