Polytech Softball Rolls Through Title Game

In 2014, the Polytech Panthers were knocked out of the state tournament in the quarterfinals, but this loss came as new found motivation as they entered the 2015 season. After a thrilling victory over Delmar in the semi-finals – questions still surfaced as to who was the better team in that game. The Panthers accepted the challenge facing Caravel – the team who knocked off Laurel, two-time state champions, in a game of their own on Saturday afternoon.

Caravel took the field displaying confidence and poise, but with two outs on the scoreboard, Polytech chipped away at that confidence. The Panthers did not just take the lead in the first inning, they scored 8 runs to put themselves in the drivers seat. Poly took the field with an 8-0 lead, but after a few errors – the Panthers found themselves with the bases loaded and only one out. Senior, Brandi Dalious, displayed leadership without saying a word when she made an incredible sliding catch in the outfield to keep the shutout alive and two outs on the board. Caravel left three runners on base in the first inning with a pop fly to right field to end the inning.

Eight runs is a hefty lead, but the Panthers wanted even more and they did it. The first batter in the inning, Taylor Pechin, comes up and smashes one to center for a solo shot to make it a 9-0 game. Shortly after – with runners on 1st and 2nd, Dalious steps to the plate and she crushes a 3-run homer over the fence to take a 12-0 lead as the Panthers stay hot.

Poly worked its magic and must have taken a sip from the magic potion from Space Jam because they stole this game in a hurry and would not look back. Polytech scored 20 runs in a state championship game while managing to shut out its opponent. The Panthers shut out Caravel to get the 20-0 victory and named the 2015 DIAA Softball State Champions.