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Lewes Base Ball Club opens 2026 season

Lewes Base Ball Club’s Chris “Lovey” Chapdelaine goes for an out in left field April 12. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
April 15, 2026

The Lewes Base Ball Club opened its 2026 home schedule with a doubleheader against the Elkton Eclipse April 12. Lewes’ games are played on the field at the Villages at Five Points near the intersection of Edgemoor Street and Old Orchard Road.

The club plays by 1864 rules, which includes balls being caught on one bounce for an out, no fielding gloves in use, historically accurate, 19th century rules of America’s pastime. The games are free to the general public, and spectators are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.

The Lewes Base Ball Club fell to the Elkton team 18-5 and 18-2.

“Unfortunately, the bats pretty much went cold today,” said Lewes Base Ball Club President and captain Mike "Oyster" DiPaolo. “But we would have to credit Elkton’s defense for making fine plays in the field. It was a beautiful day for baseball and it was a great opportunity for some new players to get some valuable playing time and see how 1864 rules work.”

The next game is against Diamond State Saturday, May 2 at Paper Mill Park in Newark.

To learn more, go to lewesbaseball.org and nahbbc.org.

 

Lewes Base Ball Club’s John “Cheese” Chisholm slams a hit in the first inning.
Lewes player Garrett “Steady” Perdick gets a hit for the home team.
Lewes Base Ball Club’s Grant “Ulysses” Garrity gets an out in the field.
Lewes batter Pat “Bullfrog” Zmuda slams a hit in the loss to Elkton.
Garrett “Steady” Perdick slams a hit for Lewes.
Lewers baserunner John “Cheese” Chisholm slides safely into second.
Lewes Base Ball Club captain Mike "Oyster"DiPaolo slams a hit into left field.
Bill Ramsey drives a hit for Lewes.
Joe “Milwaukee” Vilkoski gets a hit for the Lewes squad.
Lewes pitcher John “Cheese” Chisholm delivers to the dish.
Lewes player Grant “Ulysses” Garrity, right, gets an out on a rundown.
Elkton Eclipse pitcher Mark "Slim" Barczewsk delivers to the dish.
George "Pic" Algard gets the ball in quickly for the Elkton squad.
Matt "Ice" Leitgeb gets a hit for the Elkton team.
George "Pic" Algard snags a catch for Elkton.

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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. 

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