The King’s Fork High School softball team was able to score a little early, a little during the middle of the game and a little late on Tuesday to defeat host Lakeland High School 4-1.

“We’re a very confident softball team, we’re confident in our abilities,” Lady Bulldogs coach Richard Froemel said on Wednesday. “I think yesterday we came away with better defensive softball having been played.”

King’s Fork finished without any errors for the game.

Lady Bulldogs senior Kay’Lee Justice pitched all seven innings, and while the Lady Cavaliers produced 10 hits, they were not able to convert many of them into runs.

“She manages (the game) well, and she did it again yesterday,” Froemel said of Justice, who allowed only one walk.

The score was tied 1-1 after the first inning and remained unchanged until King’s Fork scored two runs in the top of the fourth, Froemel said. The Lady Bulldogs added one more run in the seventh.

Though grateful for the win, Froemel was not completely pleased with his team’s offensive performance.

“We weren’t too disciplined at the plate as far as pitch selection,” he said.

Lakeland senior pitcher Tori Abel was effective throwing pitches that ended up near the hands of King’s Fork’s batters.

“Tori Abel was pretty effective when she can get you to swing at those pitches,” Froemel said.

Abel threw for six innings, allowing only two walks and five hits.

“She threw very well,” Lady Cavaliers coach James Roddy said.

Senior Lindsay Carlesi was the lone Lady Bulldogs player with multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.

“She was a lot of our offense,” Froemel said.

King’s Fork sophomore Madison Froemel was 1-for-2 and had two runs scored.

Producing one hit apiece for the Lady Bulldogs were junior Mallory Moore, sophomore Rachel Vick, senior Susan Mounie, junior Lauryn Bailey and Justice.

Roddy saw improvement in his players’ effort and hustle during this game.

“I’m trying to get them out of the philosophy that once (the opposing team’s players) score a couple runs, you’re done,” he said, and he was pleased with how the Lady Cavs responded in the face of a deficit on Tuesday. “They stayed in this game and fought all the way to the end.”

They earned Froemel’s respect, who noted, “They’re a scrappy team. They’re very competitive.”

The Lady Cavaliers swung their bats well, though they had difficulty getting the clutch, timely hit.

“We, three times, had runners at second and third and just couldn’t punch that hit through,” Roddy said, adding that one of those times came in the bottom of the seventh.

Among the offensive standouts for Lakeland were Abel and junior Whitney Jones, who each were 3-for-4.

On Friday, Lakeland (1-5) is set to visit Hickory High School, and King’s Fork (5-2) is scheduled to visit Grassfield High School.