Cape baseball destroys CR in six innings

The Vikings and Riders have had many great rivalry games in the past, and this one looked to be another of those contests, with each team being undefeated in Henlopen Conference play. But the Vikings used the long ball to down the Riders 11-1 in six innings to stand tall atop the Northern Division.

Zach Dale, Mason Fluharty, Zack Gelof, and Luke Johnson each went yard to pace the Vikings.

“This was a big game for us coming in,” said Cape head coach Ben Evick. “CR was also 8-0 in the conference, and our guys came in hungry to get a win.”

Cape hit the diamond running as Zack Gelof got on with a bunt single and made it to third on a failed pick-off attempt. Little brother Jake then drove him in with a single to center.

Zack Gelof kept the Riders off the board for three innings.

“Zack worked hard on the mound to keep the CR hitters at bay,” said Evick. “He battled through some long counts and worked out of a couple jams.”

Zack Gelof allowed just one unearned run in the six innings to get the win. He helped himself at the plate, reaching base safely in all four plate appearances.

The Vikings blew open the game in the fourth, fifth and sixth to finish off the Riders in six.

Austin Elliott, Zach Dale and Mason Fluharty all had two hits each for the Vikings offense.

“We had a so-so pregame,” said Evick. “But we played very good baseball on both sides, offensively and defensively, in the game.”

A scary moment in the game happened when, after warming up in the bullpen for a possible mound appearance, Mason Fluharty was hit in the pitching arm by a CR pitch, holding up the game as he composed himself at first. He calmly walked to the plate in the sixth and made the Riders pay as he delivered a three-run homer.

The Vikings will travel to Dover Friday, May 4, to face the Senators.