Seahawks wrap up spring break with close loss to Spartans

Over spring break, the Sussex Academy softball team sandwiched an 18-1 triumph over First State Military Academy April 25 in between a pair of tough losses April 24 to Milford and April 26 to Saint Mark’s.

The girls nearly came away with a winning record for the week, but good swings stemming from strong at-bats did not result in hits against the Spartans April 26.

“A great, great game where the girls battled,” said coach Gerald Jester. “They got down, they battled back, tied it up two or three times, and never quit; that's all I can ask for as coach.”

Saint Mark’s jumped out to an early lead with a two-run blast in the top of the first inning. It’s a script the Seahawks are familiar with, and Jester made sure to remind them.

“We've been here before; there's nothing new at this point,” Jester said, referring to the Woodbridge win. “Let’s grind it out.”

Junior Ryan Lowe opened up the scoring for the Seahawks with her first career home run to slice the Spartans’ lead in half. Although it was the first score for Sussex Academy, it was a reward for a string of solid swings and at-bats to open the game.

“If you hit the ball hard, you had a good at-bat, but you’re not always going to get on every time you hit the ball hard,” Jester said.

Sophomore Caroline White was able to find some grass in the third inning, driving in Ashlyn Troxler and Delainie Monitzer to give the Seahawks a 3-2 lead.

Another two-run blast from Saint Mark’s gave the visitors a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth. The Spartans added another to present the home squad with a 5-3 deficit in the bottom half of the inning.

Sussex Academy responded immediately, as Monitzer drove in Troxler and was then driven in herself by White to tie the game.

Saint Mark’s pulled away in the sixth inning, taking an 8-5 lead that Sussex Academy could not overcome.

The 7-4 Seahawks will welcome Dover at 4:15 p.m.,Thursday, May 1, for their next game.