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Lewes Base Ball Club wins Delaware Cup over Diamond State team

First Town team takes two of three to claim bragging rights
The Lewes Baseball Club and the Diamond State squad get together after the games. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
August 9, 2025

Lewes Base Ball Club defeated Diamond State in a doubleheader Aug. 2 at the Villages of Five Points, taking home the coveted Delaware Cup.

The Delaware Cup is decided annually in a three-game format. The Lewes club dropped the first game to Diamond State in Gettysburg, Pa., in July, but their wins in both games of the Aug. 2 doubleheader gave the cup to the First Town team. 

The Lewes Base Ball Club plays by 1864 rules, which include balls being caught on one bounce for an out, no fielding gloves in use, historically accurate and 19th-century rules of America’s pastime.

“We definitely had great base running and really solid defense in both games,” said Mike DiPaolo, president and captain of the Lewes Base Ball Club. “We scored enough runs to win; our bats picked up where they were at Gettysburg. It’s really a great group of guys dedicated to playing the game the right way. There are still guys from our first team back in 2010 as well as new guys who have just joined the last couple of seasons. All the guys bring something to the team, and it’s good as see everyone work together.”

For general information about the team including upcoming schedule, membership and rules, go to www.lewesbaseball.org.

“We look forward to the Delaware Cup every year,” DiPaolo said. “We played our first game ever against Diamond State, and we always have very close matches against them. Organized baseball has been played in Lewes for over 151 years, and we’re proud to carry on the winning tradition.”

 

Lewes’ Mike DiPaolo and Eric Watland observe Diamond State’s Matt Bartnicki and Lewes’ Russ Huxtable alternate hands to determine which team bats first.
Lewes’ Chris Chapdelaine watches as Anthony DeFrancesco snags a ball for an out.
Kevin Schultz slams a hit for Lewes.
Mark Evans hits it into the outfield.
Lewes’ Mike DiPaolo gets a hit.
Lewes’ Mike DiPaolo throws to first for an out.
Anthony DeFrancesco gets a hit for the Lewes team.
Lewes batter Joe Walls slams a hit as teammate Matt Husbands is on deck.
Kevin Schultz scoops up a grounder and throws to first.
Kevin Schultz tosses some beer to Mark Evans as he scores the winning run.
Joe Walls throws to first for the Lewes squad.
Ken “Buzz” Bonsall slams a hit for Diamond State.
Sam “Iron” Hirzel scoops up a ball for Diamond State.
Diamond State’s Nathaniel “Hawthorne” Kukulich throws to first for an out.
Diamond State’s Craig “Growler” Wensell gets the ball in quickly.
Diamond State hurler Bob “Thunder” Zappaterrini throws to first to get an out.
Diamond State’s Brian “Anchor” Betts awaits his turn at bat.
Sam “Iron” Hirzel slides into second with Mike DiPaolo covering.
Team captains pose before the toss. Shown are Lewes’ Mike DiPaolo, left, and Diamond State’s Matt Bartnicki.
The Delaware Cup stays in Lewes following the doubleheader victory.

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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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