Softball never disappoints as one of Delaware’s most competitive spring sports.
There are always several teams capable of winning a state championship, and the games leading up to the title are usually close.
Caravel dominated this spring, scoring 42 runs in its four tournament games on the way to its third straight DIAA crown, the Buccaneers’ 12th overall.
But the championship game was scoreless through four innings before Caravel broke it open for a 7-0 win over Indian River. And the Indians had beaten the Bucs 3-2 in their regular-season finale two weeks before, so the outcome was far from assured.
Indian River won 1-0 over Sussex Central and 2-1 over Delmarva Christian on its way to the final, proving these games can usually go either way.
AMAZING LISTFrom acrobatics to football to rugby, here are 526 Delaware HS athletes headed to college
So it was difficult to come up with our final ranking of the Top 52 players in Delaware high school softball this spring. We combined personal observation, consultation with a prominent coach and the All-State voting of all coaches to determine the order.
There were several tough judgment calls. But this list shows just how competitive this sport is and how many outstanding players we see throughout the state.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ
Final Top 52 players in Delaware high school softball
52. Payton Keeler, OF, sr., Woodbridge
51. Alayna Griffing, sr., Red Lion Christian
50. Kaitlyn Pierce, fr., Lake Forest
49. Sabrie Purnell, sr., William Penn
48. Amara Cropper, 3B, sr., Sussex Central
47. Lily Hutt, 3B, jr., Delmarva Christian
46. Natalie Nycz, jr., Charter of Wilmington
45. Bryn O’Connor, jr., Newark Charter
44. Carlie Venables, SS, sr., Laurel
43. Zoey Coco, SS, sr., Delmar
42. Haley Hibbard, so., Odessa
41. Brianna Russo, 1B, jr., Appoquinimink
40. Lily Hoban, C, sr., Indian River
39. Samantha Stokes, fr., Odessa
38. Bella McKee, P, jr., Conrad
37. Tori Conner, sr., Archmere
36. Kaitlyn Horton, OF, sr., Caesar Rodney
35. Jaya Schaub, sr., Indian River
34. Angelina Edwards, P, sr., Red Lion Christian
33. Gianna Duca, 2B, sr., Smyrna
32. Summer Montgomery, C, sr., Middletown
31. Bailey Ullman, C, so., Laurel
30. Khyliah Reynolds, P, sr., Milford
29. Shaniya Lewis, OF, sr., Sussex Tech
28. Bayli Glanden, SS, fr., Lake Forest
27. Emily Trzonkowski, P, so., DMA
26. Mia Boyd, C, so., Appoquinimink
25. Marisa Edevane, C, sr., DMA
24. Rachel Carey, 1B, jr., Polytech
23. Haley Grygo, 3B, jr., Caravel
22. Kylee Hill, P, jr., Laurel
21. Lauren Schurman, P, sr., Padua
20. Annika Downs, OF, sr., DMA
19. Jaida Church, OF, sr., Charter of Wilmington
18. Ella Gandolfo, OF, jr., Charter of Wilmington
17. Hailey McCutchan, jr., Smyrna
16. Lauren Foltz, 2B, so., Appoquinimink
15. Makayla Brantley, OF, sr., Smyrna
14. Izabella Rodriguez, OF, sr., Appoquinimink
13. Mara Everton, P, jr., Polytech
12. Laniya Lewis, C-SS, sr., Sussex Tech
11. Savannah Laird, P, sr., Appoquinimink
10. Reese Founds, P, sr., Middletown
9. Meghan Shirey, 3B, sr., Smyrna
8. McKenna Boyle, 1B, sr., Sussex Central
7. Takyla Davis, SS, jr., Sussex Central
6. Madge Layfield, P, jr., Sussex Central
5. Carly Maxton, P, sr., Saint Mark’s
4. Kinsley Hall, P, sr., Indian River
3. Brooke Holdsworth, C, sr., Caravel
2. Kaylan Yoder, P, sr., Delmarva Christian
1. Veronica Diomede, SS, sr., Caravel
