Kimora Harris

This incoming senior at Sussex Central put on a show at the Senior Softball World Series, leading Delaware District 3 with three home runs, including a two-run blast in the fifth inning of the semifinal to put the team ahead 5-4. Like her teammate Journey Hearne, Harris also caused quite a few photographers to duck and cover on a few heavy pulls. Her .417 batting average and 10 hits were the second-highest totals on the squad, while her .462 on-base percentage and 1.295 on-base plus slugging percentage were good for third on the team. She led D3 with an .833 slugging percentage and 14 RBIs. Harris’ 57.69 quality at-bat percentage was second on the team, and her .571 average with runners in scoring position was good for third on the team. Harris’ play in the field included a diving catch with bases loaded the half-inning before her go-ahead home run.

Journey Hearne 

This incoming sophomore at Sussex Tech led the Delaware District 3 team in on-base percentage (.607), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.372) and finished tied for the team lead with 12 runs scored and six walks. Registering a quality at-bat in 60.71% of her plate appearances and putting the ball in the air in 53.85% of her batted balls in play, Hearne also led the World Series runners-up in those advanced categories. She held down right field on defense and did not commit a single error while collecting three assists and seven put outs. While she was on a squad full of heavy hitters, her heavy-pull, right-handed swing put media on notice, literally, as she smoked several balls right over the third-base dugout, whizzing past the media wells.

Brooke Holston

An incoming sophomore at Sussex Central, this Delaware Diamonds 16U player helped her team win the USSSA Eastern Nationals 16U National Championship, held July 27-Aug. 1. Holston was perfect at the hot corner in the field and collected two game-winning hits during bracket play. Clutch was just part of the tournament MVP’s game, as she batted an impressive .500 with runners in scoring position. Her .444 on-base percentage was good for third on the championship team. In a 2-0 semifinal win July 31, Holston was a factor, scoring one run herself and driving in the other. In the championship game, she tracked down a fly ball to end the top of the sixth inning, paving the way for her offense to take the title with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning for a walk-off win. Holston was one of three freshmen on the Sussex Central team that made it to the DIAA championship game this past spring. In addition to softball, this Delaware Diamond is also carving out a role on a rising Golden Knights volleyball team.

Odin Potemski

A senior at the University of Delaware, this ROTC cadet was one of six out of 400 to be recognized for outstanding performance at cadet summer training at Fort Knox, Ky. He received an award as the top Army National Guard Cadet in the regiment based on the assessment of leadership potential and physical grit before members are commissioned as officers. He then was selected by ROTC leaders to attend Cadet Advanced Individual Training at The Lightning Academy in Oahu, Hawaii. The first cadet ever to be selected from UD, he finished the 12-day Jungle Operations Training Course at the academy among a limited number of cadets selected nationwide each year. Only 62 of 130 finished the course in the rigorous, grueling tropical environment. Odin played on the Vikings' basketball and football teams, and was a member of the Cape state championship volleyball team in 2023.