Poets take regional with four-hitter

Dunbar became the first Baltimore City team to win a regional softball championship Saturday when the Poets topped the Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship  (formerly Walbrook), 17-7, to take the Class 1A South title.

Freshman Daunyea Felton, who has pitched every inning of the Poets'  17-0 season, allowed only four hits and struck out eight. Shanette Parker went 4-for-4 with a triple and three doubles and drove in three runs. Shylia Buie went 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Jessica Paschall and Candice DeShields each had three hits.

Coach Lawrence Smith, whose team beat Fairmont Heights, 23-7, in the quarterfinal, will take his Baltimore City champions to meet Allegany in the state semifinals at Bachman Softball Complex in Glen Burnie on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

"The last two years this team has really grown," said Smith, who also coaches the Poets' football team. "Most of the girls, they are from the basketball team. They're not softball players. They come out and want to learn to play the game. This was a big team effort."

—Katherine Dunn