Cape softball falls to Lake in conference championship
Lake Forest rose up to knock Cape off from the undefeated ranks with a 4-2 victory in the Henlopen Conference Championship May 19 at the Vikings’ Bill Cordrey Field.
The Spartans drew first blood in the first inning when shortstop Bayli Glanden went yard to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived, as Ava Calciano walked for the 27th time this season and stole second. It was only the fourth walk issued by Lake’s Carah Sumpter in 396 batters faced this season. Calciano was driven home by a hard-hit single from Alivia Heers to tie it at 1-1.
The Vikings grabbed the lead in the second when Jordyn Bowe reached on an error and moved up on a ground out by Melana Buehler. An Abi Crouch double plated Bowe.
“It was a good game and we battled all the way,” said Crouch. “I was just thinking to get the ball in play and do the best I could to help my team. I had the right mindset today. We wanted it, but it didn’t happen. I’m proud of this team. We’ll be back Thursday.”
Two super throws were made by the guns in the Vikings’ outfield. Eden Frederick threw home to Heers to finish a double play in the fourth inning and preserve Cape’s 2-1 lead. Then, Bri Winidish fired a dart from left to Buhler to finish a double play in the fifth to end the Lake Forest rally with the bases loaded.
Lake scored two in the fifth when Riley Bell singled, Alysa Hastings had a sacrifice bunt and Abigail Robinson singled to score pinch runner Keely Leach. That tied it. Kaitlyn Pierce sacrificed Robinson to second, then Glanden doubled to score Robinson to make it 3-2 Lake. Lake tacked on one more run in the sixth.
“We wanted it really bad” said Calciano. “Lake was the better team today. Maybe we’ll see them again.”
“We won our division. If you have to lose one, this is it,” said Cape coach Mike Tkach. “Hats off to them. They are a strong program. That’s why they won the South. But, we’re going to be okay. My girls have a burning right now. And they don’t want to have this experience again. We‘ll be ready to go for Indian River.”
No. 3 Cape (18-1) will host No. 19 Indian River (9-10) in the second round of the state tournament at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 22. Cape defeated IR 13-1 earlier this season.
