America’s pastime celebrated with Base Ball at the Beach
![The Lewes Baseball Club comprises in back (l-r) Mike “Bones” Dowd, Ed “Chief” Rush, Joe “Milwaukee” Vilkoski, Sal “Potter” Mortorano, Kevin “Dart” Schultz, Gary Hartford, Willy Rojas and Eric “Big Poppa” Watland. In front are Mike “Oyster” DiPaolo, Mark “Zap” Evans, Mike “Chicken” Curry, John “Squirrel” Kennedy, Chris “Lovey” Chapdelaine and Steve “Wheels” Shane. DAN COOK PHOTOS](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/08/field/image/5473ab.jpg)
The Villages of Five Points was thrown back into the past Aug. 24, as the Lewes Base Ball Club hosted the fourth annual Base Ball at the Beach Festival.
The Lewes club took on Rising Sun Base Ball Club and Elkton Eclipse Base Ball Club in a three-team format.
All games were played using 1864 rules, which include balls being caught on one bounce for an out and no fielding gloves in use.
“It was a great day,” said club founder and President Mike DiPaolo. “It was great to have the support of the community to come out and enjoy 1864 rules baseball. We appreciate Elkton and Rising Sun coming down to play as they have for several years. This is the club’s marquee event, and we appreciate Dogfish Head supporting the club for the past decade-plus.”
The Lewes Base Ball Club is a nonprofit organization, and membership is open to all. Other activities include hosting speakers and programs relating to baseball on Delmarva, with a particular emphasis on Lewes and Sussex County.
For general information about the team including upcoming schedule, membership and rules, go to lewesbaseball.org.
![The Rising Sun squad comprises in back (l-r) Eric “Dirt” Campion, Brian “Tex” Besancon, Ken “Doc” Yetzer, Steve “Tree” Marsteller, Chris “Cobb” Wiggins, Russ “Griz” Golden and Chris “Shady” Vaughn. In front are Joey “Bats” Iannone, Jamie “Spike” Workman, Cody “Knollwood” Stanley, Bob “Cheddar” Lambeth, Doug “Chef” Levesque and T.J. “Hack” Veiger.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/08/field/image/5508a.jpg)