Sussex Central softball falls to Caravel in DIAA final

The Caravel softball team took advantage of the arm and the bat of Kasey Xenidis, as the senior pitched a three-hitter and slammed a two-strike single to score the only two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in the 2-0 state championship win over Sussex Central May 31 at the University of Delaware. 

The top-seeded Bucs, coached by Cape alum Randy Johnson, bested Central in the state title game for the third time in the last four years. It was the fourth straight championship for the Bucs, who beat Indian River in last season’s final. The three Caravel victories over Central have come by a total of four runs.

Xenidis struck out five Central batters. She went 1-for-3 at the dish. Paige Richardson and Haley Grygo each got a hit.

Central’s Madge Layfield went the distance in the circle, allowing three hits and striking out eight batters. Layfield had an immaculate second inning, throwing nine pitches and striking out all three batters.

Catherine Hassler, Ava Brock and Makayla Eikenberry all had singles for the Knights.

“We graduated six players last year and we had seniors starting this year that never started before,” said Johnson of his Caravel squad. “That’s pretty amazing in itself. It’s unreal. Some young kids stepped up and, gosh darn it, they just keep doing it.”

Johnson said he was particularly proud of Xenidis because it was the first year the senior was in the batting lineup. 

“I’ve worked extra hard on defense and hitting, and having that pay off is just amazing,” said Xenidis. “The last pitch, I saw the spin coming at me and I thought, ‘I have to either have to foul it off or take it to the gap.’”

Despite winning their fourth straight title, senior third baseman Haley Grygo said winning doesn’t get any easier. 

“Having these coaches that will always support you and back you up is great,” she said. “They teach you things that other coaches wouldn’t. Coach Johnson is amazing.”

Central coach John Wells said his team played great but just fell a little short. 

“We lost and it hurts, but we played good softball,” he said. “We played well all year. We did things that we were supposed to do. We’ve got a lot of young girls coming back and coming up. We’ll be young, but we’ll be alright.”

Layfield finishes her senior season with 275 strikeouts and her high school career with 1,045 strikeouts. She only gave up four hits in last three games pitched against great hitting teams in Appoquinimink, Cape and Caravel.