Decatur Routs Crisfield, 22-0

BERLIN- Solid starting pitching and strong defense have long been the hallmarks of the Stephen Decatur varsity softball team and the Seahawks got a little of both along with a lot of clutch hitting as they routed visiting Crisfield, 22-0, in a season opener shortened by the slaughter rule at home on Tuesday.

Decatur was already leading 6-0 in the third inning before the Seahawks strung together a bunch of hits in the fourth to push the lead to 13-0 and essentially settle the issue. During the sequence, Shae Nottingham reached on an infield hit and Miranda Conoway followed with another hit down the first-base side.

Erika Anders then got the Seahawks' third straight hit to score Nottingham to make it 7-0. Another double drove in two more to extend the lead to 9-0 before Kylie Nottingham looped a base hit to make it 10-0. Two more runs later scored in the inning on a passed ball that pushed the lead to 13-0.

Decatur continued to pound the ball in the later innings to extend the lead to 22-0, which was the final score. Maddie Justice led the way with a near perfect performance on the mound including 11 strikeouts. Justice also went 3-3 at the plate and drove in three runs. Conoway added three hits and drove in two runs.