Santa Fe Softball Shuts Out Branford For Statement Win
ALACHUA — Santa Fe softball’s standout season continued Friday night with a 6-0 win against Branford to capped a week in which the Raiders went 3-2.
It was a statement night for freshman pitcher Rylee Swilley (8-1), who fired seven scoreless innings for the Raiders, tallying nine strikeouts in the process. She also belted her state-leading ninth home run in the fifth inning.
“I tell myself to be a dog out there and to trust my defense,” Swilley said. “I just go out there and trust myself.”
Santa Fe (15-2) wasted no time getting started when it scored two runs in the first inning. Maren Hornsby was brought home from first after a bunt and an error at third, giving the Raiders the early advantage. Ainslea Kelsoe quickly added insurance with an RBI single that brought Corie Wheeler home from third.
The Raiders didn’t slow down in the second inning when their defense was able to put down the Buccaneers’ first three batters.
Hornsby was able to pick up a two-out single in the second and was then brought in by an RBI double from Madisen Crosby for a 3-0 Santa Fe lead.
Neither team was able to put any more runs on the board until the fifth inning. Callie Blair picked up a double before Wheeler was hit by a pitch to set the stage for Swilley, who crushed the ball over the center field wall to double Santa Fe’s lead.
“I got jammed my first two at bats and I knew I needed to hit it straight to center, and I made the adjustment, so it felt good,” Swilley said.
The Raiders closed out the game strong to pick up their eighth shutout win of the season and first against Branford (11-5).
“These girls have been working really hard,” Santa Fe coach Gene Findley said. “It’s been a long week for them, but they came in and they played their hearts out.”
The strong performance this season has the Raiders ranked No. 14 in the state and No. 45 in the nation. The team is looking to carry the momentum to its fourth consecutive postseason appearance.
“People get up to the plate and make the hit, and we score,” Findley said. “So as long as they keep buying into that, we’re going to be a threat for anyone that we play at the end.”
The Raiders have seven games left to play in the regular season, including showdowns with top-ranked Trenton and No. 13 Columbia. They will return to the diamond Tuesday to host Lafayette (3-9) at 7 p.m.
“We have a young group and they are working really well together,” Findley said. “The team chemistry is pretty amazing.”
Category: High School Sports, Santa Fe High School
