Cape softball gets wins over Laurel, Archmere
The Cape softball team scored 24 runs across two games, earning a 10-2 win over Laurel April 30 and a 14-4 victory over Archmere May 2. With the sweep, the Vikings improve to 6-7 on the season.
Cape outhit Laurel 9-7 in the opener. The Bulldogs struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Vikings quickly answered with two of their own in the bottom half. Jordyn Bowe delivered an RBI single, and Madilynne O’Malley followed with a double. Alivia Longo added an RBI triple, while Bowe later drove in another run on a groundout.
Bowe finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Longo went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Makaila Sellers, Riley Windish and O’Malley each drove in a run. Sophomore Sara Craig earned the win in the circle, striking out four.
“It feels really good to get a win,” said Cape coach Mike Tkach. “We’ve had a tough schedule and some rough stretches, but the team refocused and committed to the process. We were productive offensively, hit the ball hard and played solid defense.
“We had struggled with errors in recent games, and our goal today was to play error free, and we did. It was great to see contributions up and down the lineup. We’re still aiming for a winning season and a playoff spot, so we’ll keep taking it one game at a time, staying aggressive at the plate and focusing on fundamentals.”
The Vikings kept the momentum going against Archmere, scoring seven runs in the first inning and adding seven more to secure the mercy-rule win in five innings.
Craig started in the circle, pitching 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and four walks. Windish came on in relief, tossing 2.2 innings and striking out five.
Bowe and Mia Scott led the offense with three RBIs each. O’Malley and Sellers added two RBIs apiece, while Windish and Olivia Mekulski each drove in a run. Sellers and Windish each hit two doubles, while Emma Reynolds, Bowe and O’Malley also recorded doubles.
“We’re going to keep getting better, and I’m excited about the rest of the season,” Tkach said.
Ava Milewski highlighted Archmere’s effort with a three-run home run.
The Vikings play host Polytech Tuesday, May 5, at Bill Cordrey Field.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
