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Athletes of the Week April 12

April 12, 2024
Luke Johnson
Hayden Hudson
Ava Brown
Jase Mitchell
Ava Brown
AB is a sophomore forward on the Cape girls' soccer team. Her first-half hat trick April 8 against Dover proved to be all the Vikings needed in a 3-0 victory. AB entered the game leading Cape in assists with three and had two goals. Grabbing the full attention of the defense, Brown dominated the middle of the field, particularly inside the opponent's half. Her first goal came three minutes into the game on a penalty kick, the second on a blast from just outside the 18, and the third through some traffic in the box. AB has played soccer since she was 5, having grown up with her siblings playing and a dad who supported her love of the game. The Lewes local plays in the highly competitive Elite Clubs National League for Bethesda, Md., and locally for River Soccer Club. When she's not menacing defenses, she enjoys learning about history and hanging outdoors with friends and family. Making the all-state team as a freshman in 2023, AB advises younger players to practice by themselves as much as possible to improve their touch.
Hayden Hudson

A 6-foot-1-inch first baseman on the Cape softball team, this A honor roll student is batting .545 so far this season. She’s delivered with two home runs, four singles and nine RBIs. She garnered three RBIs from home runs in back-to-back games against Dover and Sussex Academy. Batting cleanup this season, she is also hitting .833 with runners in scoring position. "Hayden has really come into her own this season," said Cape coach Mike Tkach. "Coming off an outstanding basketball season, she is off to a wonderful start with softball this spring. This off-season, she challenged herself to play with a high-level travel ball team out of New Jersey. She is playing with a lot of confidence and increased skill level." Hayden is a multiple-sport, academic all-conference student. She was voted all-conference in basketball and is involved in Henlopen Leaders, Leo Club, Morgan’s Message and the National Honor Society. 

Luke Johnson

This Cape 2020 grad is a senior at University of Maryland Baltimore County. He became the all-time strikeout leader at UMBC with 232 (and counting). The previous record was 230 set in 2002-05 by Eric Butkiewicz in 337 innings. Luke has 232 in 235 innings. Luke was a starting sophomore second baseman on Cape’s first state championship team in 2018 that included an all-star, all-time list of position players who could also pitch, including David Erickson, Austin Elliott, Mason Fluharty, Zack Gelof and Jake Gelof. Luke Johnson will always be remembered for a defensive play he made in the bottom of the sixth inning in the state championship game with Cape leading Caravel 5-3. Caravel scored three in the bottom of the sixth to cut it to 5-3, with runners on second and third. A blooper to right threatened to blow up the balloon and pop the Cape dream, but Luke caught the ball running full speed away from the infield, then turned and fired to catcher Zach Savage, who sent it to third baseman Jake Gelof for an inning-ending double play.  

Jase Mitchell 
A junior on the Cape baseball team, this 6-foot-4 man-child took ownership of the the catcher position when Brenn Scott went down with a season-ending injury. Jase is naturally made for the position, having a giant 6-foot-10 wingspan, a strong arm and an ability to block balls like a brick wall. In the recent win over Indian River, he made a highlight reel catch on a pop foul behind the plate in a strong, swirling wind. "Jase has been huge for us behind the plate," said Cape coach Ben Evick. "He is managing the pitching staff extremely well, keeping them calm and totally controlling the run game with the threat of his arm strength. At the plate, he is one of the best hitters in the state. His last three games, he is 5-for-9 including a triple and four RBIs." Jase is a University of Kentucky commit, and after the 2025 graduation, he will be playing for Wildcats head coach Nick Mingione, who has coached 26 MLB players.

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