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Cape takes on Caravel for state title June 4

Vikings win four-hour, 10-inning game over Dover in semifinals
The Cape baseball team swarms on Jake Gelof after his game-winning hit in the 10th inning of the 6-5 win over Dover in the DIAA semifinal at Frawley Stadium. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dave Frederick
June 2, 2018
Cape starter Zack Gelof delivers to the plate in the win over Dover.
Cape senior center fielder Austin Elliott makes a diving catch to end a Dover rally attempt.
Cape junior southpaw Mason Fluharty came in from the bullpen to relieve Zack Gelof.
Cape assistant coach Dave Vitella gives the team an inspirational talk late in the game.
Cape third base coach Drew Johnson, left, waves Ryan Gibbons home.
Cape head coach Ben Evick questions a call at first base.
Cape catcher Zach Savage tags out Dover’s Alec Rodriguez to end a scoring threat late in the game.
Cape’s Timmy Vitella delivers a hit in the 10th inning to tie the game.
Cape’s Jake Gelof delivers the game-winning hit in the 10th inning.
Cape third base David Erickson throws to first for a put-out.
Cape second baseman Luke Johnson snags a high bouncer.
Austin Elliott slams a hit.
Cape second baseman Luke Johnson squeezes a pop-up behind second.
Cape catcher Zach Savage celebrates his tag of Dover’s Alec Rodriguez.
Cape’s Jake Gelof delivers in relief.
Jake Gelof is swarmed by his teammates after his game-winning hit.
Zach Dale guns out Dover’s Alec Rodriguez at the plate.
Zach Dale gets pumped in the 10th inning.
Cape pitcher Austin Elliott gets to relax and have a Sour Patch Kids candy between innings.
Cape’s Mason Fluharty gets some downtime between innings.
In a showing of compassion and sportsmanship, the Cape players and coaches offer consolation to Dover coach Dave Gordon after the game.

Walk a brother to get to his brother, that was the smart move for Dover in the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs in a tie game in the semifinals of the DIAA baseball state tournament.

With Cape’s Timmy Vitella standing on second base, Zack Gelof got the free pass to first, the proverbial run that doesn’t matter.

Jake Gelof stepped to the plate looking “hitterish,” as he had the entire ballgame. Two foul ball strikes that were ripped sent a clear warning from the 0-2 batter: “Don’t come into my wheelhouse.”

Then Jake roped a hit over the centerfielder’s head, chasing home Vitella for the winning run in a dramatic 6-5 victory.

“Just another insane playoff game. We seemed to have it won then lost several times. Survive and advance. No need to overanalyze it. We play for the championship on Sunday,” said coach Ben Evick.

Cape was slated to play Caravel Sunday, June 3, at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, but rain forced officials to reschedule the game for Monday, June 4. Go to www.capegazette.com for updates on the game and check out the Friday, June 8 edition of the Cape Gazette for full coverage. 

Mason Fluharty pitched in middle relief and also stroked a three-run double in the fifth to give Cape a 4-3 lead. Fluharty scored the tying run in the 10th on a two-out hit through the hole by Vitella that careened off the shortstop’s glove into left field.

“The season was on the line; it was my job to save it. [I had] to just get the bat on the ball,” Vitella said. “This feeling is amazing.”

Cape was a strike away from ending the game in the top of the seventh, leading 4-3, but Dover scored on an Alec Rodriguez RBI single.

Jake Gelof was 4-for-5 in the game and also played four positions - shortstop, first base, center field, and pitcher, when he recorded the final out to earn the win.

“No, I’m never really nervous or surprised at myself,” he said. “Confidence is a big part of being successful in the game of baseball.”

Cape won a game in which four pitchers combined for 16 walks and two hit batsmen. Dover stranded 19 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded four times.

“Austin [Elliott] made big pitches with runners on base. He just had a phenomenal game,” Evick said.

Catcher Zach Savage caught 220 pitches over four hours on a hot day. He said afterward, “I was done, totally exhausted. I don’t know if I had another inning left in me.”

Savage was part of a huge play in the top of the ninth with the game tied at 4-4. A hit by Dover’s Noah Lanouette sent Rodriguez sprinting then sliding home from second base. Savage took a rocket throw from right fielder Zach Dale, then dove to his left to tag out Rodriguez for the final out of the inning.

Dover went ahead 5-4 in the top of the 10th, setting up second consecutive extra-inning, storybook closeout for Cape. The Vikings beat Appoquinimink 6-5 in eight innings in the quarterfinals.

Notes: Cape batters struck out 12 times in the game, while Cape pitchers struck out 11 Dover batters. Savage threw out two runners. There were no errors committed in the 10-inning game that lasted four hours.

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