Eight grade pitcher Morgan Maxwell from Caravel softball. photo by Nick Halliday

Maxwell propels Caravel to softball title game

Glenn FrazerHeadlines, High Schools, Sports

Eight grade pitcher Morgan Maxwell from Caravel softball. photo by Nick Halliday

Eight grade pitcher Morgan Maxwell from Caravel softball. photo by Nick Halliday

 

Caravel Academy softball coach Randy Johnson has efficiently used two pitchers this season as a formula to success. The Buccaneers combination of starter Kasey Xenidis and reliever Morgan Maxwell worked well in a 13-4 semifinal win that propelled the Bucs to Saturday’s DIAA championship game. Xenidis (13-1) pitched the first 3 innings against Laurel and handed a 6-3 lead to 8th grade relief pitcher Morgan Maxwell. Laurel could manage just 1 hit and 1 run against Maxwell over 4 innings, while the offense broke open a close game with 6 runs in the 6th.

Laurel grabbed an early lead with two runs in the first inning. Bailey Ullman and her sister Ashlyn both singled and scored on a hit by Mackenzie Whaley. Caravel answered with two runs to tie the game, and scored twice in the second for a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish. 

The Bulldogs plated a single run in the top of the 6th to make the score 7-4, but Caravel opened the bottom half of the inning with Zayda Rocke’s second “no doubt” home run of the night, then the rally culminated with Maxwell’s “grand slam”. 

Laurel head coach Jodi Green helped guide her team to another very impressive season and with just two senior starters, returns a solid nucleus in 2024. Erika Johnson was 2-for-2 with a walk, an rbi, and a run. 

Caravel’s offense was led by Zayda Rocke, Maxwell, and Morgan Moxley all with two hits. 17 different players participated for the Buccaneers.

The Bucs are seeking the program’s 13th state title and will face Indian River, a team they lost to 3-2 in the final regular season game on the 17th. That loss to the Indians snapped a 31-game win streak against “in state” competition for Caravel. I-R advanced to the title game for the 1st time since 1998 with a 2-1 win over the #2-seed Delmarva Christian.

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