Ravens fly away from Vikings with big sixth inning for Sussex Tech win

A young Cape softball team recently went toe-to-toe with Lake Forest, one of the top teams in the state, and followed that up by hanging in with last year’s runners-up Sussex Tech April 9.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, an experienced Ravens squad pulled away at the very end, tagging Cape with a 9-0 loss in a game that was much closer than the final tally suggests.

Ravens sophomore Cierra Lewis commanded the circle at the Pyle Center for the hosts and continued her reign of terror against hitters. Lewis fired seven innings of one-hit baseball, walking only one and collecting 13 strikeouts in the victory. Her command of the zone continued in the batter’s box as she walked twice, collected a hit and helped her own cause with an RBI.

Sara Craig, a Cape sophomore, gave up three runs in the first, but came back to sit the Ravens down one-two-three in the second inning. She only faced four batters in the third inning and repeated that cycle in the fourth and fifth innings. She ended the game with four strikeouts, trusting the defense to make plays for her. 

Cape right fielder Emma Reynolds, a freshman, saved a couple of hits, while center fielder Alivia Longo and left fielder Lyle Hunsberger collected a few outs and prevented some runs with their quick relays.

Sussex Tech opened the sixth inning with a pair of singles, but Cape battled back to collect a pair of outs, nearly keeping the game within striking distance. However, a two-out rally plated six runs. Gabriella Gianacoplis singled to right to start the scoring. Journey Hearne’s single scored another run before the Ravens forced three walks and a hit by pitch to seal the 9-0 victory.

Cape slipped to 2-3 with the loss, but the young Vikings will have a chance to get to .500 when they travel to Woodbridge Tuesday, April 14. They’ll end the week with a rivalry game at Sussex Central Thursday, April 16.