The Gloucester High School varsity girls edged First Colonial, 1-0, Tuesday in the semifinals of the Eastern Region Softball Tournament to advance for the first time to the Group AAA State Tournament. Gloucester beat Wilson, 5-0, on Monday to reach the semifinal round.

Makayla Jenkins pitched a one-hit shutout for the Dukes (23-1) at Princess Anne High School Tuesday to defeat the Beach District champions from First Colonial. Jenkins struck out 10 batters and allowed only two Patriots to advance to second base. First Colonial’s only hit of the game came on a one-out bunt single in the sixth.

Gloucester scored its lone run in the second when Noodle Allen led off the inning with a sharp single to center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alyssa Shackleford. Gabby Zarichny followed with a single to right field to put runners on the corners. Shelby Alto then beat out a two-out infield single to score Allen.

The Dukes put runners in scoring position in the f...