GDS senior Niki Ruiz hit a homerun against Boca Raton Christian. (Photo courtesy Glades Day School/Lake Okeechobee News)

BELLE GLADE- The Glades Day Lady Gators varsity softball team is off to a 3-1 start this season, with big wins over Pahokee and Boca Raton Christian.

The Lady Gators defeated Pahokee 18-0 in the season opener on Feb. 21. Glades Day’s offense dominated the game, racking up 12 hits including three doubles and a homerun. Linda Gonzalez, Rielly Baltazar, and Olivia Sanford each had 2 RBIs for the Lady Gators. Gonzalez was responsible for the home run.

While the Pahokee game was a blowout, the game against Boca Raton Christian was more of a back and forth battle. Boca Raton jumped out to a 4-0 lead early in the game, with the Lady Gators inching closer with a 3 runs in the second inning. The two teams traded leads for the majority of the game before Boca Raton took a 16-14 lead in the top of the sixth.

But in the seventh inning, the Lady Gators retook the lead to win the game 17-16.

Niki Ruiz had a homerun for Glades Day in the win,  while Kristabella Flournah led the team in RBIs with 4. Carla Brown hit two doubles during the game and Lady Gators stole 12 bases as a team. On defense Ruiz and Olivia Sanford pulled off a double play.

On March 28 the Lady Gators will make the short trip to Pahokee to take on the Lady Blue Devils. After that they’ll be on the road again to face the Clewiston Lady Tigers on March 30.