Caravel Uses Two-Run 8th Inning To Knock Out Two-Time State Champion
The three-peat of state champion fell short for Laurel High School softball Thursday afternoon at Polytech High School, as the Bulldogs fell to Caravel, 3-1 through eight innings, in the DIAA state semifinals in a rematch of last year’s title game. The Bucs improve to 13-5, while Laurel finishes its 2015 campaign with a 16-3 record.
It was a scoreless game all the way to the seventh inning, seeing the first run come across in the top half in favor of Caravel. With Grace Walker on second base after an infield single and steal to put her in scoring position, teammate Nicole Marcon sent a grounder through the left side to sent Walker home for the 1-0 lead.
With just three outs in the bottom of the seventh, Laurel would answer. Regan Green led off with liner to right center for a single before she advanced on a Kelsie Joseph shot off the third-base bag. Green crossed home plate on the next bat when Alexandria Ullman sent a looper into right field for the RBI single to tie the game up with no outs.
The next at bat played into an infield fielder’s choice, as the runner on third attempted the walk-off score, but a quick throw by Bucs’ Alexa Proffitt picked off the slide at home plate. Holly Brooks got out of the inning, striking out the next two batters.
In extra innings, Caravel struck again, adding two more runs that would play out to be enough to send the Bucs to the title game. Emily Proffitt sent a ball to left field to bring home the first run, before a sacrifice fly on the next at bat sent Proffitt home to move the score to 3-1.
Brooks and the defense put down the Bulldogs in order in the bottom half of the inning to advance to the championship. Brooks finished the day pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts.
Green paced the offense going 3-for-3 at the plate, including a double, while she pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts.
Caravel will now advance to Saturday’s title game against Polytech, who downed Delmar Thursday afternoon, 5-3. Location and start time are to be announced.
