Cape softball comes out swinging

The Cape softball team’s bats are red hot to open the season, as the Vikings have scored at least 10 runs in each of their first seven games. 

With the talent comes a never-say-die attitude, which was on display April 5 as the Vikings softball team, down 9-1 in the third inning, plated nine runs in the last three innings to defeat Conrad High School 12-10.

Ava Calciano sparked Cape in the bottom of the third with a leadoff triple and scored on an Alivia Heers RBI ground out to make it 9-1. Jordynn Bowe led off the fourth with an inside-the-park homer to bring Cape within seven at 9-2.

After two walks and an error, Heers knocked in two more runs with a single to center to make it 9-4. Two more runs scored on a wild pitch, and the score was 9-6.

After a Conrad error and a walk, Milena Buehler had an RBI single to make it 9-7, and Calciano made it 9-8 on a single.

In the bottom of the sixth, Abigail Marsh singled and Eden Frederick was hit with a pitch. Bowe hit an RBI single, scoring Marsh, and a wild throw allowed Frederick to score and tie the game at 10. Bowe then scored on a passed ball, and the Vikings took the lead 11-10. Another error allowed the 12th run to score.

It was tense in the seventh as Conrad loaded the bases, but the game ended on a wild double play with Cape taking the 12-10 victory. 

Marsh pitched a complete game for the Vikings. She struck out nine batters, while allowing 11 hits and three walks. 

The Vikings followed up the narrow victory with dominating efforts over Indian River 13-1 and Dover 19-2. 

In the April 8 win over IR, Heers connected for a home run, single, sac fly and four RBIs. Frederick, Calciano and Brianna Windish each had two RBIs. Calciano had three singles. 

Marsh struck out eight batters over five innings, allowing just four hits and one walk. 

The next day, April 9, Cape scored early and often in a rout of Dover. Nine different players recorded RBIs in the game, including Bowe and Hayden Hudson with three apiece. 

Marsh started in the circle, but only pitched one inning, striking out the side. Freshman Sara Craig tossed three innings in relief, striking out two batters and allowing three hits. Freshman Teagan Baker pitched the fifth and final inning, striking out one, allowing one hit and walking one.