Senior awards season will soon transition to facts of real life
Under the Influence - I look at high school graduates and want to ask, “Who outside of your own household inspired you in a good way and changed the direction of your life? Who enhanced your self image and taught you to be tougher and let you know the sky is the limit?" Some of the unsung heroes go all the way back to preschool. The experts in the socialization business will tell you that some first graders are already lost because they live in an environment of unpredictability and distrust. Students who pop free from high school have people to thank, so make sure you do it; otherwise, you already missed the point.
Scoreboard! - Cape is closing in on a commitment to a new scoreboard. The current one is like a $65 light fixture in the entry way of a million dollar home. Legends Stadium has made other improvements like a concrete pad with overhead lights shining on the new plaques lag bolted to the the brick a month ago. Plaques with photos and inscription descriptions need to be done for the four original members and a couple new members should be inducted in the fall during the football season. The Legends honor is reserved to coaches at this point, but an athletes hall of fame is just around the corner – so I was told in 1983. A new championship sign for Champions Stadium will soon appear on the bleachers making it 11, including six girls' lacrosse and five field hockey.
Panda Power - The Padua Pandas, a Catholic girls' school, won DIAA state championships in volleyball, indoor and outdoor track and girls' soccer. And in 2015, they will field a varsity lacrosse team and are looking for teams to play. And like Cape because of the athletic talent pool, I predict the Pandas will be major players in the sport within three years.
Snippets – Cape girls' lacrosse had six players selected to all-state honors, including Allie Yeager and Sarah Tappan, first team attack; Kat Judge, first team midfield; Maggie Delp and Taylor Gooch, first team defense; and Sam Broadhurst, first team goalie. Karalyn Joseph was second team midfield and Riley Wagner was second team defense. Kat Judge was also named Player of the Year by the Lacrosse Coaches Association.
Lewes Lax summer edition lacrosse for women is entering its eighth year of play beginning Thursday, June 19, at Champions Stadium. Games will be every Thursday running through July 24. Players entering grades 9-11 will play at 6 p.m. followed by players who are seniors or older at 7 p.m. The cost is $40 for new players and $30 for returning players with their pines. Goalies pay $20. The cost is $6 a night for drop-ins. Registration at www.leweslax.com.
A series of two-day baseball camps by age group will be offered at Sports at the Beach this summer and feature Tyler Townsend, high school All-American then Florida International player before being drafted by the Orioles in the third round, and Dave Whigham, pitching instructor who played at Guilford College and North Carolina. Two-day camps for ages 7 and 8 are June 18-19 and July 14-15. Camps for 9 and 10 year olds are June 23-24 and July 23-24. Camps for 11 and 12 year olds are June 30-July 1 and July 29-30. The cost of each two-day camp is $75. Register at www.sportsatthebeach.com/tournaments/camps or call 302-856-7400.
There will be a charity softball game at Sports At The Beach at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 22, featuring the Phillies Ball Girls and Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding Inc. versus local stars from the past named Williams and Warrington, Smith and Peet and a slew of others. The cost of $20 includes parking and a meal. I will emcee the event to add to my illustrious resumé of events better absented than attended but there’s not a horse that can hold me. There is also a cornhole competition – their flier, not mine – also known as tailgate toss, bean bag toss, corn toss and lawn darts for drunks. My, how sports has changed.
The Blue Gold All Star 5K is Saturday, June 7 at Irish Eyes in Lewes starting at 8 a.m.
Cape Athletic Director Bob Cilento arrived at Cape in 2008 and since then the Vikings have won 12 state championships. Bob is a sports enthusiast, goes to all home games and the important away games and knows all the kids. I’d have to crown him a Cape Guy; he even has a Lab and a pickup truck. Go on now, git!
