Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria won the girls’ independent state lacrosse title, while Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington won the softball title.
The Cardinals defeated St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes from Alexandria 12-10. The Knights defeated Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax 5-2. Both games were played May 15.
Ireton’s Kayla Duperrouzel dominated the draw controls early and that enabled the Cardinals to jump out to a 5-0 lead. The Saints got four goals from Ellie Carson and began to chip away at the lead, finally catching the Cardinals at 9-9 midway through the second half on a goal by Ellie Majure with 17 minutes remaining.
Two key draw controls for Duperrouzel led to a pair of Ireton goals that made the score 11-9. The Saints countered with a goal to close the gap to 11-10, but once again, the Cardinals responded with a goal and another draw control just under five minutes to play. The Cardinals spread the field and never allowed the Saints another chance with the ball enroute to the victory.
In the softball game, a run-scoring double by Kathryn Sandercock staked the O’Connell girls to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Knights added two more runs in the third inning on a double by Shannon Murphy. Leah Hammes reached on an error, and Murphy scored from second base on the overthrow at first base. Hammes stole second, and scored on a double off the left field fence by Olivia Giaquinto.
O’Connell made it 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth on a Sandercock double, a run-scoring single by Elizabeth Hoeymans, who eventually scored on a squeeze bunt by Jenna Spille.
Paul VI rallied for two runs in the sixth inning on a lead-off double by Maddie Akers and a run-scoring single by Paige Gaut. Abby Thibodeaux then singled in Gaut. The Panthers loaded the bases on a walk and another hit. All three runners were stranded as relief pitcher Giaquinto shut down the rally.
Murphy went 2-for-4, while Giaquinto, Kayla Turner and Sandercock all went 2-for-3 for the Knights. Erin Sweeney notched the win, giving up two runs in five innings.