Cape 8-10 Pat Knight softball playing alongside world’s best

Jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Cape 8-10 Pat Knight softball team started off on the right path, but was derailed by a hard-hitting Lower Sussex squad 8-3 July 30.

Capturing the attention of locals, the girls battled on a field sandwiched between two Senior Softball World Series games that garnered international notice. Addie Bekeshka got the party started by swiping every base except first following a one-out walk. Next, Bristol Pizziah replicated Bekeshka’s performance and spotted Cape a 2-0 lead.

Host Lower Sussex plated the maximum five runs in the bottom half of the first to take the lead 5-2. Cape’s Zoe Husbands stole her way to home following a one-out walk to pull Cape within two to start the second inning. Bekeshka took over in the circle in the bottom of the second and struck out the first two batters, but Lower Sussex stretched the lead to 6-3 before Cape could record the third out. They scored another run in the third inning to make it 7-3.

Pizziah did her part to jump-start the Cape offense, leading off the fourth with a blast to right field and racing around to third for a lead-off triple. In her effort to trim the lead, Pizziah was caught trying to steal home.

After Lower Sussex knocked in another run on a rocket to center in the fourth, Cape threatened to get within striking distance in the fifth inning. Patient at-bats from the girls loaded the bases up with two outs. Unfortunately, Lower Sussex escaped unscathed, taking the 8-3 victory in five innings.

On a high note, Bekeshka proved to have the right stuff on the mound, punching out eight over her three innings of work.