Royals’ softball season ends in first round

No. 21 Delmarva Christian saw its softball season end in Dagsboro May 21, with an 8-1 loss to No. 12 Indian River. 

“I'll give it to [IR], they were hitting; there's nothing that you can do about that,” said senior Lily Hutt. “But then we have to pick up our bats. We have to score runs to win a game.”

Hutt said the team was a little shocked to make the tournament – the Royals finished their regular season 7-11 – and that may have played a part in Delmarva Christian’s slow start. 

“I have five seniors who are kind of like the thermostats of the team,” said coach Rachel Fetterman. “Not that any of them said anything bad or negative, but I think leaving last Thursday, that Cape game where they put it all out on the field, they played their butts off. But I think after that game, they'd already mentally said, ‘OK, that's it.’”

IR jumped on the board in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead with two outs. After escaping the inning, Hutt singled to start the second. IR was able to turn an inning-ending double play.

IR rallied with two outs in the bottom of the second to add four runs and take a commanding 5-0 lead. With Megan Daisey in the circle for the home team, runs and base runners were at a premium. 

“She's a great pitcher, and you just have to learn to be patient and work your count, not hers, and realize that you're the batter,” said Hutt. “She's pitching to you; you should be trying to hit your pitch and not trying to hit her pitch.”

The senior went the distance for IR, striking out 13 while giving up only three hits. IR added two runs in the fourth and another run in the fifth to lead 8-0 before the Royals could get on the board.

Daisey’s lone earned run came after Hutt reached second on a two-base error. Down to the final out of their season, the Royals turned to Evie Bohinski to stay clear of the shutout. The sophomore singled in Hutt, who had a mile-long smile as she crossed, and proceeded to swipe second before IR got the final out of the game to claim an 8-1 victory.

Hutt said losing in the first round is better than not making the tournament at all, and Fetterman said she was proud of her team for battling through a tough schedule all season long.

“I think it's a more positive note to go out on,” Hutt said. “I just love the atmosphere of the state tournament – it's really fun to play to win.”