Inside The Circle: Week 6 softball top 10

Caravel recorded three wins last week to improve to 9-1 and hold on to the top spot in our rankings. The next six remain the same with some changes at the bottom of the top 10 as we close in on the final few weeks of the season. There are plenty of good matchups this week including Caravel traveling to No. 3 Laurel Saturday, No. 6 Lake faces Laurel Thursday while No. 9 Cape takes on two ranked teams this week – No. 7 Polytech and No. 10 Smyrna.  

No. 1 Caravel (9-1) The Buccaneers won three games last week rather easily. The Buccaneers only allowed two runs in wins over Delmarva Christian 9-1, Newark Charter 14-0, and Oxford (PA) 11-1. Kasey Xenidis was the winning pitcher in all 3 games while the offense was solid up and down the lineup. The Bucs are off until Saturday when they travel to No. 3 Laurel. 

No. 2 Appo (9-1) The Jags fell to Maryland power Rising Sun 12-7 for their 1st loss of the season. Appo did pick up two wins (both shutouts) against Christiana and cross-town rival Middletown 13-0. Ayla McCathern threw a no hitter in the 5 inning win versus the Cavaliers, while striking out 12. McCathern and Brooke Widdoes combined on the 1-hit shutout against Christiana. Mia Boyd, Lauren Foltz, Sophia Watson and Sophia Miller all homered last week. The Jags face Mount Pleasant, Conrad and William Penn this week. 

 

No. 3 Laurel (9-2) Laurel has won four straight improving to 9-2. The Bulldogs edged Woodbridge 5-4 and knocked off Sussex Tech 7-2 last week. Kylee Hill recorded two more victories in the circle while both Bailey Ullman and Alyssa Brittingham went “yard” last week. Laurel meets Sussex Academy before visiting No. 6 Lake Thursday and closing out the week with a home game against No. 1 Caravel.

 No. 4 Sussex Central (10-2) The Golden Knights held off a late rally by No. 10 Cape on a 302 Sports live broadcast Tuesday in a 5-4 win. Takyla Davis belted a 2-run homer in the 6th inning that proved to be the game winner. Central also defeated #8 Indian River 4-1 and blanked Newark Charter 10-0. Madge Layfield pitched a 1 hit shutout with 16 K’s in the win over Charter. This week the Golden Knights face Caesar Rodney and Sussex Tech. 

 

No. 5 St Marks (10-1) The Spartans have a four game winning streak that includes last week’s victories against Red Lion, previous No. 8 DMA, and Sussex Academy. Kimorah Neal’s 2-run single in the 7th was the difference as the Spartans held on for the win over DMA. The Seahawks actually out hit the Spartans 11-4. Against Red Lion, Liv Datilio and Emma Fauerbach combined for the 2 hit shutout. St Marks hits the road this week, going to Padua, Charter School of Wilmington, and St George’s Tech.

 

No. 6 Lake Forest (10-2) Lake had an interesting week as the Spartans edged No. 8 Indian River 1-0, lost to No. 10 Smyrna 6-5, and handled Odessa 13-2. Against IR, Lake Forest got on the board in the third inning after Bayli Glanden hit a solo home run. She also led the team with two hits on the day. Carah Sumpter earned the win for Lake. She allowed five hits over seven innings. Striking out eight and walking none.  In the close loss to the Eagles, Carah Sumpter and Bayli Glanden both hit home runs. Lake meets Henlopen-South rivals Woodbridge and No. 3 Laurel this week.

 

No. 7 Polytech (9-2)  The Panthers posted 3 shutout wins last week and have now won five in a row. Mara Everton collected 36 strikeouts in the 3 games. Gabrielle Bogdon’s 2-run home run was all the offensive support Everton needed against Woodbridge. The Panthers meet Delmarva Christian, Dover, and No. 9 Cape this week. 

No. 8 Indian River (7-5) The Indians fell to No. 6 Lake 1-0, and No. 4 Sussex Central 4-1 last week. In the Lake game Megan Daisey took the loss. She went six innings surrendering one run, four hits, striking out five, and walking one. Jillian Coulbourn led the IR with two hits in three at bats. This week, two games are on tap as the Indians take on Delmar and ECHS.

 

No. 9 Cape (8-3) The Vikings rallied in the top of the 7th inning but came up a run shy in a 5-4 defeat at Sussex Central last week. Coach Mike Tkach’s offense continues to feature balance as 6 players each had 1 hit for Cape in that loss. Cape responded to win a thriller at home against the Riders of CR. Jay’Lyn Slater hit a 2 out 2 run walkoff in the bottom of the 7th to help the Vikings win on Friday afternoon 4-3. Cape then took care of Conrad as Natlaya Roundtree broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 6th inning with a Home Run to give the Vikings a 4-2 lead in an eventual 5-2 victory. Abby Marsh went the distance scattering 9 hits and striking out 6. Cape visit new No. 10 Smyrna and No. 7 Polytech this week.  

   

No. 10  Smyrna (6-5) The Smyrna Eagles are back in the rankings following wins over Dover, No. 6 Lake, and previous No. 8 DMA. Against the Spartans, Lindsey Roscoe singled, scoring one run, Adison Weisenberger tripled, scoring two more for the Eagles in the 4th. Alexis Dennis earned the win in the circle. Then in the win over DMA, Roscoe hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the 1st and closed the game on the mound with 4 strikeouts. Smyrna will be tested as the Eagles host No. 9 Cape this week, then they visit Caesar Rodney and Delmarva Christian. 

 

With the loss to Smyrna, DMA falls out of the top 10 for the first time this season. We have our eyes on Caesar Rodney and the DMA Seahawks as well as Conrad. Those teams can still make some noise and make a move into the poll.