An opening avalanche of runs from King’s Fork High School’s softball team was ultimately too much for visiting Western Branch High School to overcome on Wednesday. The Lady Bulldogs prevailed 9-7.

Scoring on the day was restricted to three of the seven innings played. King’s Fork struck first, reeling off eight runs in the bottom of the first.

“We were pretty effective against the pitcher they started,” Lady Bulldogs coach Richard Froemel said. “Lauryn Bailey had an awesome day. Kay’Lee Justice had an awesome day.”

Bailey, a junior, was at the plate more than once during the first inning. She was walked the first time, and she tripled the second time. By the end of the game, she was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.

After King’s Fork’s fast start, the Lady Bruins brought a different girl into the circle.

“She was effective,” Froemel said. “We just didn’t adjust to what she was doing, and I guess from the first inning on, we just grounded out, popped up, that type of thing.”

Senior pitcher Kay’Lee Justice and the Lady Bulldogs’ defense continued to be effective, as well, as King’s Fork held an 8-0 lead until the sixth inning. But then Western Branch started gaining some momentum.

The Lady Bruins scored three runs in the top of the sixth, helped out by a home run, to make the score 8-3.

Justice responded with a home run of her own to make it 9-3 going into the seventh.

Western Branch led off the final inning with a single, then the top of the lineup was up, getting yet another go against Justice. The Lady Bruins produced a single, a double and another home run, helping make it 9-7.

King’s Fork was able to end the game with solid defense, getting the final two outs needed including one off a great play by Bailey at shortstop.

“I was really impressed the way they came out,” Froemel said of his players. “I wasn’t so impressed when (the Lady Bruins) changed pitchers, and we didn’t adjust to what that girl was doing.”

Nevertheless, the Lady Bulldogs ended up out-hitting Western Branch 9-8.

Froemel highlighted Justice for going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and hitting King’s Fork’s first home run of the season.

She also managed the game from the circle, pitching the entire game.

Lady Bulldogs sophomore Madison Froemel was 2-for-4 with one RBI.

Though KF’s defense held the Lady Bruins for much of the game, its three errors on the day prompted Coach Froemel to note that work needs to be done on that side of the ball.

King’s Fork (2-1) visited Great Bridge High School on Thursday and will participate in a tournament on March 31 at Grassfield High School.