Vikings baseball slays the Spartans 19-1

Cape hosts Ravens May 31 in DIAA quarterfinals

Cape senior Luke Crouch went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and scored three runs in the Vikings’ 19-1 victory over Lake Forest. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Dan Cook

May 29, 2022

The Cape baseball team sent 18 batters to the plate in a 13-run second inning and continued to pummel the ball in the next three innings en route to a 19-1 win over Lake Forest in the second round of the DIAA state tournament. The Vikings outhit the Spartans 14-3.

Luke Crouch went 3-for-3 and knocked in three runs for Cape. Brenn Scott went 2-for-3 with a double with three RBIs. Austin Rhue went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Paris Mitchell went 1-for-1 with a double, two walks and two RBIs. Timmy Hitchcock went 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Brian Fleming, Justin Marsh, Mikey Jarrell, Isaac Terhune and Sam Kerstetter each had an RBI. Fleming slammed a double in the big second inning.

“We just wanted to stay humble this game,“ said senior first baseman Paris Mitchell. “I don’t think we expected that outcome. They had such a great game against Central. We just came out hitting. Everyone was happy. We just want to keep playing with each other. That’s the biggest thing.”

Adam Schiff had two hits to lead the Spartans. Tristin McCray had a single.

Josh Reinhold pitched three innings, scattering three hits and striking out four. Hitchcock came in from the bullpen to pitch the fourth and fifth, not allowing a hit and striking out two.

“That game was the best possible case scenario for everything that happened,” said senior Josh Reinhold. “Everybody is available for pitching on Tuesday. Everybody hit the ball well. We had 15 hits. Everybody got in. I don’t think you can ask for more.”

“I felt like we did a good job responding after they scored in the first inning,” said Cape head coach Ben Evick. “We had a couple of instances where our backs were kind of against the wall and we had to respond. I didn’t expect a 13-run inning. We came in with the same approach we had all year, hit singles and stretch a bunch of hits together and keep the next guy coming to the plate. ”

The Vikings host Sussex Tech at 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 31. Cape defeated the Ravens 3-2 April 5 at Sussex Tech.

“It’ll be another good game,” said Evick. “There’s always a lot of hype when we play them. Everyone gets excited for it. My guys are pumped and ready to go.”