Athletes of the Week June 4

Nick Cruz

The former Stony Brook strider went on Cruz control at Sunday’s Masser 5-Miler, leading from post to paddock, cutting through the wind and rain in the no-sweat sweet time of 27:36, which is a 5:31 mile pace. Cruz finished just ahead of Colten Morris (27:48) and Francisco Puac (28:32). Nick runs short and long distances. In the beat-the-clock challenge – 18 hours of running – held last year, he finished second to professional ultramarathoner Mike Wardian. Nick also owns a 2:40:53 time in the 2019 Rehoboth Marathon. Unlike most runners, Nick does a lot of treadmill training, which means he has the talent to disassociate from his surroundings. Nick works for SharpTech Software in Bridgeville.

Kate Evick

This junior slugger for the DIAA state tournament runner-up Golden Knights softball squad has blasted her way into the minds of opposing pitchers across the state. She finished the 2021 season batting .468, going 36-for-77 from the plate, including seven doubles, a triple, seven homers, and knocking in 27 runs. Kate led the team in doubles, triples, homers and slugging percentage. Recently, she went yard in the 6-1 win over Appoquinimink, clearing the 200-foot fence by 50 feet and breaking her dad's truck windshield in the process. She is also a stellar player behind the plate, catching every game this season. "Kate has been an anchor in our defense," said head coach John Wells. "She really allows Madge [Layfield] to pitch comfortably, as Kate can handle all the difficult pitches and her speed. She is also one of the best hitters in the state and one of the best hitters I’ve coached. She’s so reliable each game." You can find her playing travel ball in the upcoming summer season. A honors and AP student at Sussex Central, she is also an outside hitter on the Central volleyball team in the fall season.

Madge Layfield

One of the premier pitchers in the state, Madge led her Central team to a 21-2 record in 2021 and a runner-up finish in the DIAA tournament. She finished the season with 286 strikeouts, which equates to an impressive 14.2 Ks per seven innings pitched. In the DIAA final against Caravel, she struck out 22 batters. "Madge pitched one of the best playoff performances that I can remember," said Central coach John Wells. "She seemed to get stronger in the extra innings." “Madge is one of the best pitchers I have seen in a while," said catcher Kate Evick. "Having her in the circle this year gave me no worries.” Sitting down batters means more to her than just winning games. Her mother, Sarah, was diagnosed with ALS last year, and this season Madge was involved in the StrikeOutALS fundraiser, getting donations from local businesses for each strikeout she threw. A good amount was banked for the cause. She pitches for the Delaware Cobras national softball team in the summer months, and in the fall you will find her on the hockey field for the Knights. An honors student at Central, she is in the International Baccalaureate Program.

Emily Trout

Senior Emily Trout will graduate with a 4.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale from Sussex Academy in Georgetown and take her talented self to Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa., where she will run cross country and track & field for the Bullets. The United States Track & Field Association recently honored the Gettysburg girls’ team for having a 3.52 GPA, so I guess Trout will fit right in academically. Emily is a tough competitor on the track or on the trails, but as nice a person as you can meet when she is not competing. Emily’s range went from the 800 meters to the 3,200 meters, and in many meets she ran three events. It was a sure bet that when you stepped on the track against Emily, she was always giving 100 percent and you were in for a race. You are definitely a better person if you were lucky enough to get to know distance runner Emily Trout.