Kingsford senior Adelyn Normand connects for an RBI single during the third inning of Thursday’s varsity softball game against Houghton. Normand drove in three runs in the Flivvers' 8-1 victory at Lodal Park. (Ron Deuter photo)

KINGSFORD – Seniors Jazzlyne Shaughnessy, Adelyn Normand and Grace Rice each had two of Kingsford’s eight hits, and junior Mya Brunswick allowed just one hit in another dominating performance from the circle, as the Flivvers rolled Houghton 8-1 Thursday afternoon at Lodal Park.

“We showed a lot of intensity and our defensive coverage was really good,” Flivvers head coach Amy Brunswick said. “We had a lot of girls who stepped up and contributed.”

Normand went 2-for-3 in the win, bringing in three runs. She delivered a two-out, two-run pop fly single that fell into shallow center to cap a six-run first inning for Kingsford, which improved to 2-1 with the win.

Shaughnessy, who also went 2-for-3, singled in a run earlier in the first by roping a liner to right field that brought home senior Karly Trevillian, who reached on a sinking line-drive single to right.

A bases-loaded walk to sophomore Jolie Fleming — who doubled deep to left — and a steal of home by junior Kailey Matuszewski on a double-steal attempt accounted for the other two first-inning tallies. Kingsford scored four times with two outs to give Brunswick more than enough support.

The score increased to 7-0 in the third when Normand, again with two away, drove a 3-1 pitch into left field to bring home Matuszewski, who had opened the inning with a four-pitch walk.

Kingsford made it 8-0 with two out in the fifth when senior Grace Rice rolled a single up the middle to plate Shaughnessy who bunted her way on to lead off the frame. Rice also had a single in the first inning.

Brunswick pitched all seven innings, fanning eight while not allowing an earned run. Houghton’s only run came with two away in the sixth. A grounder off the bat of senior Ellie Hainault was misplayed in the infield and another error on a throw allowed Hainault to keep motoring around the bases and score.

Coach Brunswick credited a more aggressive approach at the plate to her team’s offensive success, and she also liked what she saw from the defense, despite the miscue in the sixth.

“We’re still playing around with our positions, and I think we saw some of that starting to gel a little better,” she said. “We put (sophomore) Allison (Deuter) back at catcher to get her some experience, and I think that she took it with confidence which is great to see. Yeah, overall I was very pleased.”

Coach John Bray’s junior varsity squad continued its red-hot start to the season, improving to 3-0 with 12-2 five-inning rout over the Gremlins. The Flivvers pounded out 10 hits, led by sophomore Olivia Scott with two doubles and three RBI. Freshman Hannah Deuter added two knocks and two RBI, with a double, and freshman Lia Murphy collected two hits with a RBI. Freshman Gracie Chartier had a two-run double, and freshman Miley Bray also had a double. Chartier took the win in the circle, whiffing eight and allowing two hits over five innings.

Kingsford’s varsity team plays a doubleheader at Crivitz today. The JVs are idle until Tuesday when Calumet visits.