Black Girls Run - The Delaware chapter celebrated 15 years by running in the Outlet Liquors 5K, the same race runners chose 15 years ago. Most of the women are from Middletown and points north. The national chapter was started 17 years ago to combat health issues among Black women.  

Ball girls - Evan Chubb and Finley Conn, a pair of fast friends, were ball girls for Saturday's field hockey play day. They are shown chillaxing before the start of play. A photographer is the bottom rung of sideline hierarchy; the ball girls are up close to the officials, who control the venue. Evan could be an ad for the Wawa breakfast sandwich.  

Resilient and ebullient - LeeAnn Hoffman Waltz received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma – a type of blood cancer – a few years ago. After undergoing exotic therapies, she says she's now "100% undetectable." I responded, "Then how come I can see you?" All jokes aside, Lee Ann is relentlessly tough. She is best around people; sometimes she brings me cookies, which I eat on the way home. She's a good friend to so many.

Undercard - JV games are usually played before the varsity games in high school sports. A talented junior varsity squad is an indication as to the overall health of the program. If your talented JV team gets beat as the prelim to the varsity game, it gets your attention. Cape is obviously a premier field hockey school, having won 12 state titles since 2011 while losing twice in overtime to Smyrna. At one point, Cape had 100 wins in a row against in-state competition. The JV teams are usually stacked. The problem is putting together a good schedule to test young players to make them better. The 2026 fall schedule has six JV teams dropping from the Cape field hockey schedule; they are Sussex Tech, Sussex Central, Polytech, Sussex Academy, Milford and Dover. There are programs that don’t put much emphasis in JV but have super talent at the varsity level. The problem with that model is, with a slight talent drought, the well quickly runs dry. 

“Oh ye of little faith” - Gospel of Matthew - Jesus gently scolds followers who give in to doubt. And you know baseball is in the Book of Genesis. "In the Big Inning (beginning)." And so I bailed on the Phillies, down 4-0 to the Cardinals entering the ninth inning. They were still down four runs with two out before scoring six highlighted by Kyle Schwarber's walk-off two-run homer. Two guys I love postgame are Donnie Baseball and Diego the Spanish interpreter.  

Looking related - We all know people in families resemble each other and sometimes resemble each parent, but how do you explain the non-related parents who resemble each other while the dog looks like them all? I took a photo of close friends Angela Messick and Ashley Gray after Saturday's run in Dewey Beach. I figured them as at least sisters and possibly twins. Angela said, "So, fun fact, we are actually not related. We grew up together, but this is definitely one of the top questions we get, and it’s valid. We are just two friends who decided to start running together."

Snippets - There is a line in the movie "Tombstone" where Wyatt Earp is leaving town by buckboard. He stops in front of the saloon and tells one of the outlaw cowboys, "Just to let you know, it’s over. We’re leaving.” The cowboy with no emotion says, "Well, bye.” If you're a Cape athlete and choose another school, the parting words of the cowboy seem appropriate, "Well, bye.” Cape football has seen about six athletes head out to other places. I am a frontline player sports reporter. Statewide, my colleagues would agree Cape athletes get the best coverage. A lyric by Tracy Chapman seems appropriate, "Give me one reason to stay here, and I’ll turn right back around.” Maybe all the hype has gone to Instagram. I have an account but can’t remember how to get back to it. The phrase “labor in obscurity” comes to mind; it means doing the job without anyone cheering, clapping or knowing your name. Go on now, git!