Cape softball falls to Smyrna in quarterfinals

The Cape softball team fell to Smyrna 5-2 in the DIAA quarterfinals May 24, ending the Vikings’ state championship hopes.

“We definitely had a great season,” said senior Bri Windish. “Even though it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. It definitely stings right now, but we have a lot to be proud of.”

Each team started slow at the plate, but the Eagles played small ball in the second with three bunts in a row to take a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Vikings’ Milena Buehler walked, then Abi Crouch singled. Buehler scored on passed ball to make it 2-1.

The Eagles increased their lead in the sixth when they plated three runs.

Cape mounted their best threat in the sixth when they loaded the bases on a single by Crouch, walk to Ava Calciano and an Alivia Heers walk. After a Hayden Hudson line out, Abby Marsh connected for an RBI ground out to make it 5-2.

Marsh went the distance in the circle, striking out eight batters.

“The dream was a championship win,” said Heers. “We did not get that dream, but we found something just as memorable. Throughout the whole season, we worked so hard and enjoyed every second we had with each other because we knew that at some point it was going to come to an end. I think I can speak for the most of the team, we didn’t want to say goodbye to each other; we truly became a family. This is a family we will never forget.”

Cape finished the season with a 19-2 overall record. 

“This is going to go down as one of the best teams of all time in Cape history,” said coach Mike Tkach, who was named Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year. “I’m extremely proud of their accomplishments. They made me a better coach. We’ve had a heck of a great four years. They are going to be alright. They are going to do a lot of good things in life. I’ll miss them.”

Cape home run derby

Before the loss to Smyrna, Cape advanced in the state tournament with a 14-3 victory over Indian River May 22.

The Vikings got on the scoreboard first when Heers singled and was driven in on Hudson’s ninth career home run.

After Marsh took the Indians down in the top of the second, Cape went ballistic in the bottom half of the inning. Windish smashed two home runs in the inning. The Vikings also got long balls from Crouch, the first of her career, the second of the day from Hudson, and another from Heers.

The Vikings picked up two more runs in the fourth inning to punch their ticket to the quarters. 

After a Cape double play was overturned in the top of the fifth, the Indians got a three-run homer from Sophie Scurci to cut the lead to 14-3. Reliever Sara Craig then came in to shut things down.

Marsh went four innings in the circle, picking up the 50th win of her career in a six-strikeout effort. 

Season awards