Pitching, speed, and defense are the name of the game in softball and the Lady Dragons appear to have what it takes to have a successful 2008 season. With junior Casey Ducinski on the mound, Duxbury is off to a fast start with an opening-day 3-1 win over Whitman-Hanson and a 5-2 home-opening win over Marshfield.

Pitching, speed, and defense are the name of the game in softball and the Lady Dragons appear to have what it takes to have a successful 2008 season.

With junior Casey Ducinski on the mound, Duxbury is off to a fast start with an opening-day 3-1 win over Whitman-Hanson and a 5-2 home-opening win over Marshfield.{sidebar id=4}

Ducinski fanned nine batters in the win over W-H and didn’t walk anyone, while limiting the Panthers to four hits.

The Duxbury offense did its job in the first inning, as Ducinski helped her own cause and was aided by junior Nicole Forlizzi and Alanna Rourke in pushing across two run in the team’s first at bat.

After Ducinski bunted her way on and stole consecutive bases, Forlizzi walked and stole second, leaving it up to Rourke, who came through with an RBI single.{sidebar id=1}

Casey Ducinski.jpg 

The Lady Dragons would add an insurance run in the top of the third inning when Forlizzi singled and stole second, coming home on a Kayla McGillvary double for the final run of the game.

The team returned home on Thursday afternoon to take on the Rams and was in a hole early, as a stolen base and two hits off Ducinski in the top of the first inning had the visitors on top, 1-0.

It didn’t take Duxbury long to respond, as Ducinski bunted her way on base and was at third two stolen bases later. Forlizzi walked and promptly stole second, setting the stage once again for McGillvary, who knocked home the juniors for a 2-1 lead.

Marshfield would tie the game at 2-2 with a pair of hits and a walk in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Dragons cemented the win in the bottom of the fifth when they pushed three runs across for a 5-2 lead.

A Ram error and bunt singles by Ducinski and Forlizzi loaded the bases for McGillvary, who continued her clutch hitting by driving home a pair of runs with a double. Another Marshfield miscue would bring home the final Duxbury run.

Ducinski had another solid effort, striking out 11, walking one, and allowing five hits while winning her second game of the year.{sidebar id=6}