Advertisement

Standout left-hander from Delmarva Christian leads All-State softball team

brad myers, delaware news journal
·3 min read

Delmarva Christian’s Kaylan Yoder has been named the Player of the Year and leads the All-State team selected by the Delaware Interscholastic Softball Coaches Association.

Yoder, who has signed with Liberty, quickly became one of the state’s top pitchers after transferring from Greenwood Mennonite before her senior season.

The left-hander pitched nine shutouts, including a 20-strikeout perfect game against Appoquinimink and an 18-strikeout no-hitter against Mardela (Md.). The Royals finished 17-4 and reached the semifinals of the DIAA Softball Tournament.

Delmarva Christian's Kaylan Yoder winds during an April 25 game at Caravel. The senior pitcher has been named Delaware's Softball Player of the Year.
Delmarva Christian's Kaylan Yoder winds during an April 25 game at Caravel. The senior pitcher has been named Delaware's Softball Player of the Year.

Yoder is the first-team pitcher, while Caravel senior Brooke Holdsworth is the first-team catcher.

The first-team infielders are Sussex Central senior McKenna Boyle at first base, Appoquinimink sophomore Lauren Foltz at second, Sussex Central junior Takyla Davis at shortstop and Smyrna senior Meghan Shirey at third.

The first-team outfielders are Appoquinimink senior Izabella Rodriguez, Smyrna senior Makayla Brantley and Charter of Wilmington junior Ella Gandolfo.

BUCS WIN IT ALL Caravel gets offense uncorked late, rolls to DIAA softball title over Indian River

The coaches also voted 11 at-large selections to the first team: Appoquinimink senior Savannah Laird, Indian River senior Kinsley Hall, Middletown senior Reese Founds, Polytech junior Mara Everton, Saint Mark’s senior Carly Maxton, Sussex Central junior Madge Layfield, Sussex Tech senior Laniya Lewis, Smyrna junior Hailey McCutchan, Caravel senior Veronica Diomede, Charter of Wilmington senior Jaida Church and Delaware Military Academy senior Annika Downs.

Smyrna’s Nicki Shirey was named the Coach of the Year after guiding the Eagles to a 12-7 season.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

DISCA All-State softball team

P – Kaylan Yoder, sr., Delmarva Christian

Delmarva Christian pitcher Kaylan Yoder throws in the Bucs' 5-4, eight-inning win at Caravel Academy, Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Delmarva Christian pitcher Kaylan Yoder throws in the Bucs' 5-4, eight-inning win at Caravel Academy, Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

C – Brooke Holdsworth, sr., Caravel

Caravel's Brooke Holdsworth singles to open her team's at bats in the third inning of the Bucs' 7-2 win Thursday, May 4, 2023
Caravel's Brooke Holdsworth singles to open her team's at bats in the third inning of the Bucs' 7-2 win Thursday, May 4, 2023

1B – McKenna Boyle, sr., Sussex Central

2B – Lauren Foltz, so., Appoquinimink

Appoquinimink's Lauren Foltz slides safely into third base as Caravel's Haley Grygo awaits the throw on a sac fly in the third inning of the Bucs' 7-2 win Thursday, May 4, 2023 at Caravel.
Appoquinimink's Lauren Foltz slides safely into third base as Caravel's Haley Grygo awaits the throw on a sac fly in the third inning of the Bucs' 7-2 win Thursday, May 4, 2023 at Caravel.

SS – Takyla Davis, jr., Sussex Central

Sussex Central's Takyla Davis
Sussex Central's Takyla Davis

3B – Meghan Shirey, sr., Smyrna

Smyrna's Meghan Shirey
Smyrna's Meghan Shirey

OF – Izabella Rodriguez, sr., Appoquinimink

Appoquinimink's Izabella Rodriguez pulls in a fly ball for an out in the Jaguars' 7-2 win against Conrad in the DIAA state tournament opening round, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Appoquinimink.
Appoquinimink's Izabella Rodriguez pulls in a fly ball for an out in the Jaguars' 7-2 win against Conrad in the DIAA state tournament opening round, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Appoquinimink.

OF – Makayla Brantley, sr., Smyrna

Smryna's Makayla Brantley
Smryna's Makayla Brantley

OF – Ella Gandolfo, jr., Charter of Wilmington

Charter of Wilmington's Ella Gandolfo (12) fields the ball against Caesar Rodney.
Charter of Wilmington's Ella Gandolfo (12) fields the ball against Caesar Rodney.

At-large selections

Savannah Laird, sr., Appoquinimink

Appoquinimink's Savannah Laird delivers a pitch in the Jaguars' 7-2 win against Conrad in the DIAA state tournament opening round, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Appoquinimink.
Appoquinimink's Savannah Laird delivers a pitch in the Jaguars' 7-2 win against Conrad in the DIAA state tournament opening round, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Appoquinimink.

Kinsley Hall, sr., Indian River

Indian River's Kinsley Hall
Indian River's Kinsley Hall

Reese Founds, sr., Middletown

Middletown's Reese Founds delivers in the sixth inning of the Cavaliers' 1-0, extra innings win at Middletown High School, Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Middletown's Reese Founds delivers in the sixth inning of the Cavaliers' 1-0, extra innings win at Middletown High School, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Mara Everton, jr., Polytech

Carly Maxton, sr., Saint Mark’s

St. Mark's starter Carly Maxton throws in the fourth inning of the Spartans' 8-0 win against Delaware Military at St. Mark's, Thursday, March 30, 2023.
St. Mark's starter Carly Maxton throws in the fourth inning of the Spartans' 8-0 win against Delaware Military at St. Mark's, Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Madge Layfield, jr., Sussex Central

Sussex Central sophomore Madge Layfield pitching in game against Conrad Thursday.
Sussex Central sophomore Madge Layfield pitching in game against Conrad Thursday.

Laniya Lewis, sr., Sussex Tech

Sussex Tech center fielder Laniya Lewis keeps a line drive in front of her as it bounces in for a hit.
Sussex Tech center fielder Laniya Lewis keeps a line drive in front of her as it bounces in for a hit.

Hailey McCutchan, jr., Smyrna

Smyrna's Hailey McCutchan
Smyrna's Hailey McCutchan

Veronica Diomede, sr., Caravel

Caravel's Veronica Diomede ends the game with an RBI hit in the bottom of the eighth inning of the Bucs' 5-4 win against Delmarva Christian at Caravel Academy, Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Caravel's Veronica Diomede ends the game with an RBI hit in the bottom of the eighth inning of the Bucs' 5-4 win against Delmarva Christian at Caravel Academy, Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

Jaida Church, sr., Charter of Wilmington

Charter of Wilmington's Jaida Church (2) slides into third base against Caesar Rodney.
Charter of Wilmington's Jaida Church (2) slides into third base against Caesar Rodney.

Annika Downs, sr., DMA

Delaware Military's Annika Downs score and cheers teammate Marisa Edevane's two-rbi single that tied the game in the fifth inning of DMA's 8-4 win Saturday, April 30, 2022 at St. Mark's.
Delaware Military's Annika Downs score and cheers teammate Marisa Edevane's two-rbi single that tied the game in the fifth inning of DMA's 8-4 win Saturday, April 30, 2022 at St. Mark's.

Second team

Emily Trzonkowski, so., DMA; Kylee Hill, jr., Laurel; Khyliah Reynolds, sr., Milford; Lauren Schurman, sr., Padua; Marisa Edevane, sr., DMA; Bailey Ullman, so., Laurel; Summer Montgomery, sr., Middletown; Rachel Carey, jr., Polytech; Gianna Duca, sr., Smyrna; Mia Boyd, so., Appoquinimink; Bayli Glanden, fr., Lake Forest; Angelina Edwards, sr., Red Lion Christian; Haley Grygo, jr., Caravel; Jaya Schaub, sr., Indian River; Kaitlyn Horton, sr., Caesar Rodney; Shaniya Lewis, sr., Sussex Tech.

Third team

Tori Conner, sr., Archmere; Bella McKee, jr., Conrad; Samantha Stokes, fr., Odessa; Lily Hoban, sr., Indian River; Briana Russo, jr., Appoquinimink; Haley Hibbard, so., Odessa; Zoey Coca, sr., Delmar; Carlie Venables, sr., Laurel; Bryn O’Connor, jr., Newark Charter; Natalie Nycz, jr., Charter of Wilmington; Lily Hutt, jr., Delmarva Christian; Amara Cropper, sr., Sussex Central; Sabrie Purnell, sr., William Penn; Kaitlyn Pierce, fr., Lake Forest; Alayna Griffing, sr., Red Lion Christian; Payton Keeler, sr., Woodbridge

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware All-State softball: Kaylan Yoder is Player of the Year