Beach Blast tournament: 65 teams gone for the summer
The annual Beach Blast lacrosse tournament played June 24-25 at Cape Henlopen High School was formatted into five age groups that were then divided into two groupings, each with a chance to win a championship.
The graduation years for what has become a middle school tournament go from 2026 through 2030.
There were roughly 60 teams playing on seven fields, with each team guaranteed at least four games.
“This is such a great venue with a beach feeling to it. Teams just love coming here,” said Sue Murphy, who directs the tournament along with Courtney Vaughn. “And there are no college coaches here evaluating talent. Just a solid two days of high-level lacrosse.”
The Eastern Shore Lacrosse Club, known as the Pirates, has the most local players, but the Lady Blue Crabs of Maryland also have many locally connected players.
The ESLC 2028 squad was crowned champions after making the championship game with a 3-1 record, then beating Jets Silver 5-4 in the finals. Katie Klabe, a former Cape star, was head coach of the 2028 team.
The 2029 ESLC team, coached by Elissa Rupert and Steve Forestier, went 1-3. The 2027 ESLC squad, coached by John Rishko, went 3-1. The 2026 ESLC team, coached by Jasmine Hall, went 1-3.
The Beach Blast tournament wrapped up the late spring and early summer season for lacrosse clubs, which will resume competition in the fall.
Note: There are no published rosters for the tournament, so it is tough tracking identities of players. It's not on a need-to-know basis, more an if-you-know, you-know basis.
