Representing Cape at the 2025 Delaware Blue-Gold Softball All-Star game are (l-r) Chuck Hudson, Alivia Heers, Ava Calciano, Hayden Hudson and Mike Tkach. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Home-run derby participants are (l-r) Bailey Ullman, Alivia Heers, Carah Sumpter, Cimone Edge, Hayley Lawson and Zayda Rocke.
Taking part in the bunt competition are (l-r) Elizabeth McCarthy, Kirah Lately, Kira Brown and Nelmarie Rivera.
Racing around the base paths were (l-r) Sophie Scurci, Baylee Lynch, Ava Calciano, Jordyn Hollamon, Lauren Foltz, Carly Polsky, Carson Gesuero and Nelmarie Rivera.
Hodgson’s Kira Lately drops down a bunt.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers and Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed stack buckets after knocking them down with throws.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson steps on first during the fielding drill.
Sussex Academy’s Carson Gesuero shows off her speed in the relays.
Cape’s Ava Calciano rounds first in the race.
Gold players congratulate one another after their 3-2 win in the skills competition.
Cape’s Ava Calciano is announced.
Cape’s Ava Calciano waits for a throw as Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed rounds second base.
Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed slides in for the first run of the game just as Cape’s Alivia Heers catches the relay.
Sussex Tech’s Hayley Lawson watches where the ball goes.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers reels in a fly ball.
Cape’s Ava Calciano tosses to second for a force.
Cape coach Mike Tkach congratulates Carah Sumpter on her home run.
Delmar’s Jordyn Hollamon fires over to first.
Caesar Rodney’s Elizabeth McCathy makes a beautiful diving grab.
Sussex Academy’s Carson Gesuero fires in a strike.
Laurel’s Bailey Ullman is swarmed at the plate following a home run.
Ava Calciano connects with a pitch in her first at-bat.
That ball is going, going ...
Gone! Ava Calciano hits her first of two home runs.
Cape’s Ava Calciano is greeted by her teammates as she touches home.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers is ready to run.
Cape’s Ava Calciano rounds the bases one last time.
The future UConn Huskie points to her high school coach, Mike Tkach,
Cape coach Mike Tkach sends Ava Calciano down the final stretch in her last home run.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson got fully extended on this dinger.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson smiles as she high-five coach Mike Tkach.
Hayden Hudson is greeted by her Cape and Gold team teammates.
Cape’s Alivia Heers makes sure all three Vikings send on over the fence.
Cape’s Alivia Heers could not contain her joy.
Cape’s Ava Calciano was named the Gold MVP for her two home runs and play at shortstop.
Brandywine’s Abby McFarland was the Blue MVP.
For one last high school game (l-r) Alivia Heers, Hayden Hudson and Ava Calciano don the same uniform.
Coach Mike Tkach, right, said it was an honor to coach the team and was really happy he had Chuck Hudson by his side for one last game with the latter experiencing a special moment with his daughter. Tkach said that’s what it is all about.
Representing Cape at the 2025 Delaware Blue-Gold Softball All-Star game are (l-r) Chuck Hudson, Alivia Heers, Ava Calciano, Hayden Hudson and Mike Tkach. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Home-run derby participants are (l-r) Bailey Ullman, Alivia Heers, Carah Sumpter, Cimone Edge, Hayley Lawson and Zayda Rocke.
Taking part in the bunt competition are (l-r) Elizabeth McCarthy, Kirah Lately, Kira Brown and Nelmarie Rivera.
Racing around the base paths were (l-r) Sophie Scurci, Baylee Lynch, Ava Calciano, Jordyn Hollamon, Lauren Foltz, Carly Polsky, Carson Gesuero and Nelmarie Rivera.
Hodgson’s Kira Lately drops down a bunt.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers and Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed stack buckets after knocking them down with throws.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson steps on first during the fielding drill.
Sussex Academy’s Carson Gesuero shows off her speed in the relays.
Cape’s Ava Calciano rounds first in the race.
Gold players congratulate one another after their 3-2 win in the skills competition.
Cape’s Ava Calciano is announced.
Cape’s Ava Calciano waits for a throw as Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed rounds second base.
Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed slides in for the first run of the game just as Cape’s Alivia Heers catches the relay.
Sussex Tech’s Hayley Lawson watches where the ball goes.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers reels in a fly ball.
Cape’s Ava Calciano tosses to second for a force.
Cape coach Mike Tkach congratulates Carah Sumpter on her home run.
Delmar’s Jordyn Hollamon fires over to first.
Caesar Rodney’s Elizabeth McCathy makes a beautiful diving grab.
Sussex Academy’s Carson Gesuero fires in a strike.
Laurel’s Bailey Ullman is swarmed at the plate following a home run.
Ava Calciano connects with a pitch in her first at-bat.
That ball is going, going ...
Gone! Ava Calciano hits her first of two home runs.
Cape’s Ava Calciano is greeted by her teammates as she touches home.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers is ready to run.
Cape’s Ava Calciano rounds the bases one last time.
The future UConn Huskie points to her high school coach, Mike Tkach,
Cape coach Mike Tkach sends Ava Calciano down the final stretch in her last home run.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson got fully extended on this dinger.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson smiles as she high-five coach Mike Tkach.
Hayden Hudson is greeted by her Cape and Gold team teammates.
Cape’s Alivia Heers makes sure all three Vikings send on over the fence.
Cape’s Alivia Heers could not contain her joy.
Cape’s Ava Calciano was named the Gold MVP for her two home runs and play at shortstop.
Brandywine’s Abby McFarland was the Blue MVP.
For one last high school game (l-r) Alivia Heers, Hayden Hudson and Ava Calciano don the same uniform.
Coach Mike Tkach, right, said it was an honor to coach the team and was really happy he had Chuck Hudson by his side for one last game with the latter experiencing a special moment with his daughter. Tkach said that’s what it is all about.
A slew of senior players from the ultra-competitive Henlopen Conference joined forces, some on the Blue team and some on the Gold squad, in the annual softball all-star game June 12.
“It was so much fun to come in and play with all these girls that I know, I've competed against and some I played with years ago,” said recent Cape grad Ava Calciano. “Having my last game with my teammates and my coaches from Cape was really meaningful.”
This year’s game was held at Red Lion Christian Academy and featured a skills competition before the first pitch. Gold triumphed in the home run derby, bunting and relay race to upend the Blue squad, which won both fielding challenges.
Gold was led by Cape coaches Mike Tkach and Chuck Hudson. Representing the Vikings were Calciano, Alivia Heers and Hayden Hudson.
Heers competed in the home run derby, while Hudson joined Calciano in the fielding trial, and Calciano competed in the relay race.
Although the team with mostly southern players lost 14-10, they were down 13-3 at one point, and a comeback was fueled by the three Cape players.
In her first at-bat, Calciano walloped a solo homer to kick-start the potential comeback. It would be her first of two blasts, as she, Heers and Hudson each belted round-trippers with their final high school swings.
For her efforts, Calciano was named the Gold MVP, but she was just happy to play another game of the sport she loves.
“I would be lying if there was one specific thing – it's just everything,” Calciano said. “As soon as I step on the field, I am immediately happy; just thinking about the sport brings me so much joy.”
Hudson was the second Viking to go deep. Making the moment all the more special was that her father, Chuck, was in the dugout.
“I've been very blessed to be inside the lines or on the bench for almost her entire high school career, and it’s very special,” Chuck said. “She made it very easy … it's hard being the coach's kid; never once did she make me feel uncomfortable or treat me like ‘Dad,’ and I tried not to treat her like my daughter most of the time too.”
Heers was not to be outdone by her teammates, as she too booked a round-trip journey immediately after Hudson’s bomb. The future St. Joseph softball player’s joy could not be contained as she made her way around the bases.
“I wanted to stop at third and give [coach Tkach] a hug,” Heers said. “Coach Tkach is just such an amazing guy for all of us, and he just kind of made our softball career how it was.”
“These girls have impacted my life so much, and I'm thankful for them,” Tkach said. “They're gonna be missed.”
Representing Cape at the 2025 Delaware Blue-Gold Softball All-Star game are (l-r) Chuck Hudson, Alivia Heers, Ava Calciano, Hayden Hudson and Mike Tkach. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Home-run derby participants are (l-r) Bailey Ullman, Alivia Heers, Carah Sumpter, Cimone Edge, Hayley Lawson and Zayda Rocke.
Taking part in the bunt competition are (l-r) Elizabeth McCarthy, Kirah Lately, Kira Brown and Nelmarie Rivera.
Racing around the base paths were (l-r) Sophie Scurci, Baylee Lynch, Ava Calciano, Jordyn Hollamon, Lauren Foltz, Carly Polsky, Carson Gesuero and Nelmarie Rivera.
Hodgson’s Kira Lately drops down a bunt.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers and Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed stack buckets after knocking them down with throws.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson steps on first during the fielding drill.
Sussex Academy’s Carson Gesuero shows off her speed in the relays.
Cape’s Ava Calciano rounds first in the race.
Gold players congratulate one another after their 3-2 win in the skills competition.
Cape’s Ava Calciano is announced.
Cape’s Ava Calciano waits for a throw as Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed rounds second base.
Woodbridge’s Abriyah Reed slides in for the first run of the game just as Cape’s Alivia Heers catches the relay.
Sussex Tech’s Hayley Lawson watches where the ball goes.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers reels in a fly ball.
Cape’s Ava Calciano tosses to second for a force.
Cape coach Mike Tkach congratulates Carah Sumpter on her home run.
Delmar’s Jordyn Hollamon fires over to first.
Caesar Rodney’s Elizabeth McCathy makes a beautiful diving grab.
Sussex Academy’s Carson Gesuero fires in a strike.
Laurel’s Bailey Ullman is swarmed at the plate following a home run.
Ava Calciano connects with a pitch in her first at-bat.
That ball is going, going ...
Gone! Ava Calciano hits her first of two home runs.
Cape’s Ava Calciano is greeted by her teammates as she touches home.
Sussex Tech’s Madison Myers is ready to run.
Cape’s Ava Calciano rounds the bases one last time.
The future UConn Huskie points to her high school coach, Mike Tkach,
Cape coach Mike Tkach sends Ava Calciano down the final stretch in her last home run.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson got fully extended on this dinger.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson smiles as she high-five coach Mike Tkach.
Hayden Hudson is greeted by her Cape and Gold team teammates.
Cape’s Alivia Heers makes sure all three Vikings send on over the fence.
Cape’s Alivia Heers could not contain her joy.
Cape’s Ava Calciano was named the Gold MVP for her two home runs and play at shortstop.
Brandywine’s Abby McFarland was the Blue MVP.
For one last high school game (l-r) Alivia Heers, Hayden Hudson and Ava Calciano don the same uniform.
Coach Mike Tkach, right, said it was an honor to coach the team and was really happy he had Chuck Hudson by his side for one last game with the latter experiencing a special moment with his daughter. Tkach said that’s what it is all about.Event Details :
Premier Listing
Sponsored Content
Premier Listing
Sponsored Content
Local Dining
Sponsored Content
Real Estate Marketplace
Sponsored Content
In the Market
Sponsored Content
