Inside The Circle – Top 10 Week 8

There are two weeks left in the regular season as the 1st round of the DIAA state tournament is scheduled to begin on the 23rd. The top four teams remain the same in our weekly rankings, however there are at least ten programs that are proving worthy of a spot in our poll. That shows the parity in Delaware softball this season as we approach, what should be, a very competitive tournament.

Caravel secured three impressive wins last week including a 1-run win against DMA, and victories over Appo and Delmarva Christian. In the win versus the Jags, the two catchers led their teams offensively as Caravel’s Brooke Holdsworth and Appo’s Mia Boyd both collected 2 hits. That game was our 302 Sports “Game-of-the-Week”. Caravel has 5 games left, including Monday against Laurel and the final regular season contest at Indian River on the 17th. 

Despite falling to Smyrna last week,  Sussex Central has locked up the Henlopen North title, while Indian River has secured the Henlopen South after the win over Laurel last week. Those two receive automatic berths in the playoffs. Upstate, Appo and Middletown meet Tuesday to decide the Blue Hen Flight A championship and the accompanying tournament spot. 

Here is the current Top 10 for Delaware Live-302 Sports:

1 – Caravel (10-1)  9 straight wins, hosts Laurel Monday.

2 – Delmarva Christian (11-2) Both losses to Caravel. Plays Laurel the 11th.

3 – Appo (10-2) Next 4 games MHS, Smyrna, ST Marks, DMA

4 – St Marks  (11-1) Faces Central, Appo and DMA in final stretch.

5 – Indian River (12-3) 8 straight wins. Meets Cape and Caravel with 3 games left.

6 – Lake Forest (10-4)  Wins vs Central and Laurel. Plays Delmarva Christian and Milford.

7 – Sussex Central (11-3) Losses to Lake and Smyrna. Meets St. Marks & DMA.

8 – Laurel (12-4) After 8 straight wins, lost last 2. At Caravel Monday. 

9- Cape (9-5). 9-6 win vs Milford last week. Faces IR Thursday.  

10- Milford (11-2) Plays Lake Thursday.

Others receiving consideration are Middletown (9-3, DMA (7-4), Smyrna (9-6), Polytech (8-5) and Padua (8-4).

For Inside The Circle, I’m Glenn Frazer