With with a trio of convincing victories and a tight one-run win, the Bishop O’Connell Knights (7-0) extended their four-season girls softball winning streak to 61 games.
The single-run triumph was by an 8-7 score over the host St. Paul VI Catholic Panthers for the multi-time defending Division I state and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference private-school Knights.
O’Connell’s other wins were over Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, 11-3, Central Virginia Home School, 17-2, and Elizabeth Seton, 13-1.
In the close win over Paul VI, O’Connell never trailed, but the score was tied at 2. Paul VI pulled within 8-7 by scoring one run in the last of the sixth inning.
In the seventh, O’Connell pitcher Annie Van Dyck retired the side in order, striking out the final two hitters, to preserve the win and streak. Ari Clark homered, doubled, had three hits and four RBI for O’Connell, Abby Bond had two doubles and three hits, and Gigi Payne added a double and two hits.
The games against Nansemond-Suffolk and Central Home School were played the same Saturday afternoon (March 22) at the Dinwiddie Sports Complex west of Petersburg.
The Knights had 28 hits in the two wins. Clark had two hits, three hits and five RBI against Nansemond-Suffolk, M.J. Melvin homered and had two hits, Emma Prykanowski added two hits and Callie Lessenden tripled. Bri Lencz was the winning pitcher.
Melvin, Lissenden and Ella Fletcher all had three hits against Central Virginia Home School. Bond added two hits. Fletcher and Van Dyck did the pitching.
The Knights had 14 hits against Elizabeth Seton. Clark had three hits and Lessenden, Milvin, Bond and Prykanowski two each. Fletcher pitched a two-hitter and fanned eight.
O’Connell has owned numerous winning streaks in the program’s accomplished history, including a decade-long 121-game regular-season unbeaten string.
The Knights’ current 61-year streak includes regular-season and postseason games.
NOTE: The first statewide Division I girls softball poll for the 2025 season is scheduled to be released April 7. O’Connell is expected to be ranked No. 1
