Cape softball blanks Seahawks 10-0
Local rivals Sussex Academy and Cape Henlopen were locked in a scoreless draw after two innings on the Seahawks’ softball diamond April 9 before the Vikings felt the need to shake things up and began plating runs on their way to a 10-0 victory.
Abigail Marsh took the circle for the Vikings, striking out six over six innings, while allowing four hits and walking none.
“Abby is every coach's wish,” Cape coach Mike Tkach said. “She's a very, very good pitcher. She's not like a dominating pitcher like Madge Layfield [of Sussex Central], but she has the inner aggression, and she lets loose and she plays.”
In addition to an airtight defense, Marsh was backed by Cape’s bats in the game. Senior Natalya Roundtree scored the first run after she reached on an error in the third and proceeded to steal second before advancing to third on a passed ball. Junior Milena Buehler’s sacrifice fly plated Roundtree before fellow junior Ava Calciano blasted a line drive over the centerfield fence to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
Pinch runner Eden Frederick, on for catcher Alivia Heers with two outs in the fourth, worked her way from first to home using tactful base-running to eventually score from third on an error forced by her steal of third. The Vikings added another when Marsh helped her own cause by scoring to make it a 4-0 game after four.
“I think one thing that we emphasize from day one is we got to continue to be aggressive on the base path as well as at the plate,” Tkach said. “We're pretty strong top to bottom as far as people being able to hit and get on base. If we get on, we're probably going to be running at some point.
“We have power hitters. We have line-drive hitters. We have people that are laying bunts down. What I like today is we had a very good team win. So many people contributed.”
Flashing her speed after showcasing her power, Calciano swiped two bags to stand on third to start the bottom of the fifth inning. She scored before the inning ended for a 5-0 Vikings lead.
“On the base paths, I like to stay aggressive,” Calciano said.
The University of Connecticut commit was also sharp in the field, noting she fully trusts her teammates working in the dirt.
Cape was able to put the game away in the top of the sixth. After scoring two runs earlier in the inning, first baseman Hayden Hudson connected on a three-run homer to put the Vikings up 10-0. While the offense stayed hot, Hudson was quick to note how much the defense had improved. She specifically noted that she has never seen a shortstop play the way Calciano does.
“We like to get better each day, and it's fun seeing that improvement; especially when I'm at first, I get to see everyone making improvements each day,” Hudson said.
