Mackenzie Short pitches for Appoquinimink in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Mackenzie Short pitches for Appoquinimink in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Rosa’lynn Burton of CR is safe on a third base steal as Andrea Johnson of Appoquinimink misses the tag in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Karina Atanacio bats for Appoquinimink in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Jordan Scout of Appoquinimink slides safely into home to score a run in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Haley Jones misses a ground ball in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Rosa’lynn Burton is safe at second as Haley Jones misses the tag in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Haley Jones of Appoquinimink is safe at third as Rosa’lynn Burton of CR misses the tag in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Alyssa Ball of CR makes a throw to first in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Lauren Polinski of CR makes a throw from the outfield in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Lauren Polinski of CR makes a throw from the outfield in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Mirabella Klebart catches for CR in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Caesar Rodney’s Mirabella Klebart bats during the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Haley Jones bats for Appoquinimink in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Alexxys Harris bats for CR in the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
Caesar Rodney’s Alyssa Ball pitches during the CR at Appoquinimink varsity softball game on Wednesday.
MIDDLETOWN – Wednesday afternoon’s nonconference softball game at Appoquinimink was really a matter of who would blink first in extra innings.
Caesar Rodney kept their eyes open long enough to push two runs across in the top of the 11th inning and held on for a thrilling 5-4 victory over the top-ranked Jaguars to finish their regular season on a winning note.
“We had a really bad taste in our mouths after losing our Senior Day game,” Riders head coach Skye Boris explained. “The girls were very determined, that we were not going to lose this game. They definitely had the will to win today.”
“It was mind over matter,” said junior pitcher Alyssa Ball, who pitched all 11 innings, striking out 11 hitters on the afternoon. “I knew my best chance to help the team today was pitching because I was hitting well at all. My defense backed me up and we were able to get it done.”
“Alyssa’s our ace, she put the team on her back in the circle and she had a great demeanor out there,” Boris said.
Caravel’s Duarte reaches lacrosse milestone in win
Appoquinimink (13-3) took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning on an error by the Riders and run-scoring hits by Haley Jones and Mallory Weir. CR (13-5) battled back behind lead-off hitter Rosa’lynn Burton, who went 4 for 5 at the plate and stole five bases on the afternoon. After singling and stealing second and third base, Burton scored the tying run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Mirabella Klebart.
Both teams traded zeroes until the top of the 11th when senior rightfielder Lauren Polinski beat out a sharp grounder to first base and pinch runner Desiree Hare kept flying around third base for the go-ahead run. First baseman Jordan Mosley added some insurance with an RBI double that scored Polinksi.
“I was nervous at the plate, but I had confidence in myself and our runner on second base,” Polinski said.
Appoquinimink got a run back in the bottom of the 11th on an RBI groundout from Jordan Scout, but Ball got Taylor to bounce the ball back to her for the final out, closing the door on a win the Riders hope won’t be their last as they likely will be playing in the DIAA softball tournament scheduled to start Memorial Day weekend.
“I told our girls this is a tournament atmosphere and Appo is a really good tournament team,” Boris said. “This type of game helped us prepare for it.”
“Appo was ranked a lot higher than us coming into the game, so our confidence is really high right now,” Polinksi added.
Jones and Scout each had a double while pitcher Mackenzie Short struck out eight batters for Appoquinimink.