Gray day by the bay: Kent Island and Cape lax battle at Legends Stadium

The weather was so dreary and eerie March 12 at Legends Stadium for the boys' lacrosse scrimmage versus Kent Island that half the parents didn’t show up - actually, it was a lot more than half.

Both Eastern Shore storied programs are packed with pride, and the boys know each other going back to U13 days as Atlantic Lacrosse expanded its local reach looking for foreign competition.

“We just need to be more consistent on offense and not turn the ball over,” said Cape offensive coach Mark D'Ambrogi. “There were good things in the scrimmage. I think we’re going to be okay.”

Both teams word gray sweats with no numbers; Kent Island wore dark scrimmage vests on top of the sweats. It was difficult to notice who was who unless you were related.

Kent Island, 16-3 last season and 32-5 over the last two, jumped on top of Cape early, but by halftime the unofficial score was tied at 6 as Luke Benson, Michael Hopkins and Todd Keen rang the bell for Cape.

Cape is a team coming off an 11-6 season that included close losses to Wilmington Friends, Archmere, two to Tower Hill and additional losses to Salesianum and Caesar Rodney. Cape won its last Delaware state title in 2008 with a record of 18-1.

Tony Iammatteo, a junior, went the distance in goal as Grant Gillian was sidelined with a clavicle contusion - bone bruise - suffered when he took a hard shot to the shoulder while warming up before the March 9 play day.

“Tony played well,” said his position coach, Geoff Shuppard. “We are lucky to have two really good goalies. Grant should be back within a week.”

Cape is scheduled to scrimmage Stephen Decatur at Legends Stadium at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday March 19, deluge or drizzle.

Cape opens the regular season at 7 p.m., Friday, March 22, at Milford. Joey Vavala is the head coach at Milford, assisted by Malik Lopez.