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Cape softball trio contributes in big way at Carpenter Cup

Delaware South falls two runs short of championship
Cape rising senior Hayden Hudson slides safely into third ahead of the throw for a triple against Inter-AC, a collection of Philadelphia-area academies and private schools. Delaware South won 16-2 June 17 to clinch a spot in the June 19 elimination round. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Aaron R. Mushrush
June 20, 2024

Delaware South came within two runs of clinching its sixth Carpenter Cup title on Juneteenth, before falling to champion Lehigh Valley 2-1 in the Philadelphia tournament’s final game.

The 2024 squad featured a trio of Cape rising seniors who more than held their own against the best softball players from around Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware.

Ava Calciano, Alivia Heers and Hayden Hudson made up 75% of Delaware South’s first four batters and did not shy away from the heavy responsibilities those slots carry. Filling the role of leadoff batter to a T, Calciano finished the tournament with a .591 average, 12 runs scored, nine stolen bases, a double and three triples. Heers’ power was evident as she hit a home run, and secured three doubles and a triple while plating nine. She was a jill-of-all-trades for Delaware South, serving as catcher and patrolling right field, a new position for her. Hudson, a defensive stalwart at first, went .333 with a double, a triple and eight RBIs. Her demeanor in clutch situations is unchanged from when she is enjoying time with her teammates, allowing her to meet those moments.

Tri-Cape

Delaware South fell 10-5 to defending champion Tri-Cape in the first of three games June 17. Tied 3-3 heading into the fourth, Tri-Cape began to pull away thanks in part to a series of uncharacteristic errors. The South offense was led by a pair of two-RBI performances from Heers and Indian River’s Parker O’Shields, each of whom had a double.

Philadelphia PCCAF

The bats came to life in Delaware South’s second game June 17, as the girls cruised to a 17-0 victory that featured a Little League home run (triple and an error) and an inside-the-park home run. Woodbridge’s Kimora Harris had the former, while IR’s Sophie Scurci had the latter. The Cape trio each had two hits and scored twice. Calciano had a double, while Heers had a double and a triple. Sussex Central’s Ava Brock swiped two bases, tying Calciano for the team lead. 

Inter-AC

Delaware South’s offense was too much for just one game. Calciano and Hudson collected triples in the first inning before Heers sent a blast, rocking a TNT helmet, over the fence in left-center. Leading 3-0 after one, it seemed like the game would be a nail-biter, but after scoring once in the third and fifth, the girls erupted for 11 runs in the top of the seventh to secure a 16-2 win. Calciano ended the game 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three stolen bases. Hudson scored three herself while driving in five runs off three hits. Heers plated four runs through her two hits.

Delaware County

In Delaware South’s first game of the knockout stage June 19, Calciano kicked off the scoring in the top of the third by tripling and scoring on Scurci’s sacrifice fly. Delaware County equalized in the bottom half, but Heers led off the fourth with a double. Delmarva Christian’s Bella Marinelli came in to pinch run and scored on an O’Shields RBI single. Delaware County took the lead 3-2 heading into the fifth, but Calciano singled, swiped a bag and scored on an error to tie it. A two-base error on a Heers pop-up scored Scurci to put Delaware South up 4-3. The lead changed hands again with Delaware County up 5-4 at the end of five. O’Shields led off the sixth with a single and was sacrificed to second on a Jordyn Hollaman bunt. Harris doubled in O’Shields to make it 5-5 with no outs. Calciano’s single scored Harris to give Delaware South a 6-5 lead they would not relinquish.

Mid-Penn

Delaware South jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the semifinal before Mid-Penn battled back to tie it 5-5 heading into the seventh. Calciano led off the seventh with a single and stole second to get into scoring position before a Scurci single sent her home. Scurci was then moved into scoring position on a Hudson ground out. Heers knocked her in to give the girls a 7-5 win and a ticket to the finals.

Lehigh Valley

In contrast to earlier games, the final played out as a defensive duel, despite Lehigh Valley leading 2-0 after the first. Delaware South’s red-hot bats were cooled until Hudson broke up a combined no-hitter in the fifth. To lead off the seventh, Calciano singled, committed her usual thievery of second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hudson’s sacrifice fly plated Calciano, but it would not be enough as Lehigh Valley collected the final out to win the Carpenter Cup 2-1.

 

Cape’s Ava Calciano, committed to play softball at the University of Connecticut, scores during Delaware South’s 10-5 loss to Carpenter Cup defending champion Tri-Cape.
Delmarva Christian rising senior Bella Marinelli throws the ball into the infield during Delaware South’s 10-5 loss to Tri-Cape June 17.
Cape rising senior Ava Calciano singled twice in the first inning against Philadelphia PCCAF. She is shown stealing second after her first single in the June 17 game.
While she probably wasn’t giving herself a pat on the back, Hayden Hudson certainly earned one after the rising Cape senior notched a double.
Cape’s Alivia Heers is rewarded with a face full of dirt as she slides into third ahead of the throw for a triple.
Parker O’Shields, a rising sophomore at Indian River, heads out of the box following her base knock.
Sussex Central rising sophomore Ava Brock slides into home headfirst ahead of the tag following a passed ball.
Scoring is nothing new for Delmar’s Jordyn Hollamon. The rising senior is signed on to play field hockey at the University of Maryland.
Delaware South coach Jon Gianacoplis strategizes with Woodbridge’s Kimora Harris following the rising sophomore’s triple.
Cape incoming senior Alivia Heers prepares to slide safely into home.
Cape’s Hayden Hudson is all smiles as the rising senior trots home.
Kimora Harris, right, walks to the dugout alongside the three runners the Woodbridge rising sophomore plated on her Little League inside-the-park grand slam.
Indian River’s Sophie Scurci crosses home on her inside-the-park home run June 17.
A rising sophomore at Sussex Tech, Taylor King took over the circle late in the second game June 17.
Woodbridge’s Kimora Harris somehow raced down this line drive to secure an out that had everyone, including the batter, in disbelief.
Cape’s Ava Calciano kicked off the scoring party in the third game with a lead-off triple.
Hayden Hudson, a rising senior at Cape, reaches down to secure a throw for an out at first.
While she doesn’t normally play outfield, Cape’s Alivia Heers showed off her versatility when she patrolled right against Inter-AC in Delaware South’s final game June 17.
Sussex Central rising sophomore Ava Brock singles in the final game of Delaware South’s tripleheader June 17.
Cape’s Ava Calciano claps as she cruises into home for a Delaware South run.
Doing whatever her team needs, Alivia Heers busts down the third-base line on her way to scoring.
Cape rising senior Hayden Hudson scores during Delaware South’s 16-2 win over Inter-AC.
A Vikings-Vikings connection ends the ball game as Ava Calciano throws over to Hayden Hudson for the final out of the June 17 tripleheader encore.

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