Region 20 Champions! Cecil Defeats No. 1 Potomac State for World Series Birth

KEYSER, W.V. - Cecil softball captured the Region 20 Division 2 Championship on Sunday afternoon, winning 11-6 over five-time defending champion and No. 1 seed Potomac State (33-7). The Seahawks punch their ticket to the NJCAA Division 2 World Series as the Mid-Atlantic District representative.

Cecil (23-10) came in to the day needing to win just once to become champions. The Seahawks earned this after a 9-3 victory over Southern Maryland on Friday and their 7-2 win over the Catamounts on Saturday. Potomac State needed to defeat the Seahawks twice to advance after working its way through the loser's bracket.

How It Happened

Cecil's offense was held scoreless for the first three innings by Potomac State starter Delaney Randolph. Taylor Stapleford took the circle for the Seahawks, giving up two runs in the opening frame for an early Catamount lead.

After a leadoff walk by Keira Wolfe in the fourth, Gabriella Smith grabbed Cecil its first run on an RBI-single. A pair of errors loaded the bases with two outs and a wild pitch eventually scoring Smith. Randolph struck out the next batter to keep the contest tied at 2-2.

Stapleford put the Catamounts down with three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth. The Seahawks responded with a six-run fifth to take the lead, highlighted by a pair of two-RBI doubles from Kylee Bergman and Riley deRoulac. Stapleford helped her own cause as well, capping off the frame with an RBI-single that drove home deRoulac.

Potomac State had the top half of its lineup fire off back-to-back singles to start its side of the fifth. Stapleford squared off with Skyla Compton next, battling to a 3-2 count before forcing the Catamount to roll into a 5-3 double play. Stapleford took down the next batter with a strikeout to end the rally.

The two teams traded home runs in the sixth. Bergman mashed a three-run homer in the top, while Alyssa Abel picked up a pair on her shot in the bottom half of the inning.

Cecil was held scoreless in the top of the seventh. The Seahawks turned to Taja Souza in the circle to see out the game, with the top of Potomac State's lineup due up once again.

Potomac State led off the inning with a single, but saw the runner thrown out a second attempting to steal. The next batter walked, bringing Compton to the dish. The sophomore outfielder took a 1-1 pitch deep for two runs, pulling the Catamounts within five. 

Souza would hit the next batter, but forced Lacie Miller to fly out for the second out. Potomac State picked up one more hit on a base knock, bringing up Abel for a chance to do more damage. Abel took a strike then swatted the ball to center, but Keira Fendt was planted directly underneath and secured the final out to give Cecil the victory. 

Box Score Highlights

• Kylee Bergman led Cecil with two hits, both for extra-bases, and five RBI.
• Gabriella Smith chipped in two hits, two runs, and an RBI for the Seahawks.
• Cecil's Riley deRoulac and Lily DeLong both doubled.
• Taylor Stapleford (17-2) was the winning pitcher for Cecil, striking out 11 batters over six innings. She allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over 127 pitches (82 strikes).
• Skyla Compton finished with two hits, two runs and two RBI for Potomac State.
• Alyssa Abel and Katelyn Cooper each recorded two RBI for the Catamounts.
• Delaney Randolph took the loss from the circle, surrendering eight runs (five earned) on five hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings.

All-Region 20 Tournament Team

• Riley deRoulac
• Gabriella Smith
• Kylee Bergman
• Taylor Stapleford

Up Next

Cecil awaits its seed for the NJCAA Division 2 World Series, held May 19-24 at Tyger River Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina.