Seahawks Earn Two-Seed in States

Seahawks Earn Two-Seed in States

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity softball team punctuated
its outstanding regular season with a double-header sweep of visiting Crisfield
last week to clinch the Bayside South championship and learned three days later
it would be the number-two seed in the state's Class 3A-East region tournament.

The Seahawks were impressive all season, finishing with a
15-2 record, behind stingy pitching and timely, productive hitting from up and
down the line-up. The two games against Crisfield last week were a microcosm of
how the Seahawks got it done all year.

In the first game, Decatur beat Crisfield, 22-0, as
starting pitcher Jessica Iacona went five innings allowing just one hit and
striking out six. In the second game, the Seahawks blanked the Crabbers again,
18-0, behind a two-hit, nine strike out performance by Amanda Parsons. Kylie
Nottingham was the hitting star during the twin bill, collecting seven RBIs on
three hits.

With the sweep, the Seahawks earned the Bayside South
championship and a shot in the Bayside Conference championship against North
winner Easton. The title was set for Tuesday in Easton, but got rained out and
was made up in a game played too late to be included in this edition.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday the Seahawks learned their fate in
the post-season when the state softball regional tournament brackets were
released. Decatur earned a number-two seed and a first-round bye in the state
Class 3A-East region. They will face the winner of the game between
number-seven Centennial and number 10 Bennett.

Bennett is the only other team from the Eastern Shore in
Class 3A, so the rest of the teams in the tournament are from the western
shore. While little is known about Centennial, the Seahawks are very familiar
with Bennett, having beat the Clippers twice during the regular season. Because
of their high seed, the Seahawks will play at home until at least the regional
championship game, assuming they continue to advance.