Undefeated Cape, Caesar Rodney meet in tennis showdown this week

The Cape softball team lost 13-0 in 4 1/2 innings at Caravel April 2 as the undefeated defending state champion Bucs scored 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Caravel is coached by former Cape multisport athlete Randy Johnson. Carolyn Szymanski, a sophomore pitcher for Caravel, gave up one hit, a single by Tiara Duffy, and no runs. Over two games, Caravel has outscored Cape and St. Elizabeth 37-0. Szymanski was also 3-3 at the plate in the win over Cape. Softball will be at Smyrna Tuesday, April 5. The Eagles are 1-1 on the young season.

Tennis, anyone? - I have been served with a kindly heads-up that Cape’s girls’ tennis team is currently undefeated on the season at 5-0 heading into a Tuesday, April 5 match at Lake Forest. The Vikings are 22-3 in actual matches played. Singles players from first through third are Colleen Beck, Samantha Hurley and Marissa Bowski. Doubles teams are Lindsay Hynes-Stephanie Delp at first doubles, and Baylie Fannin-Madison Long playing second doubles. Coached by Carl Pearson and Dan Dagle-Long, the girls are at 1-3 Lake Forest Tuesday, April 5, before a showdown match at Cape Thursday, April 7, when the Vikings host the undefeated Caesar Rodney Riders, who have won all five matches by 5-0 scores. Playing first singles for the Riders is sophomore Sarah Candeloro, whose father Dan “Candyman” Candeloro is a former defensive tackle for Delaware State and currently on the Riders football staff. The Riders, coached by Zach Taylor, are riding a 33-match team victory streak which includes 23 straight without losing a single individual match.

Snippets - At 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, the Senior Women's Softball League (45+) will hold a general meeting of players followed by team practices at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown. New players and new teams are welcome. Call Marion Lisehora, 302-934-9512, or visit delawareseniorolympics.org/sports/softball_women_index.php for more information. Tim Stauffer, the nephew of Bill Schab of Lewes, was the opening-day starter for the San Diego Padres. Tim went six innings, gave up two earned runs and left with the score tied at 2. Tim got the Cardinals to hit eight ground ball outs, four of which were converted into double plays. The Padres went on to beat the Cardinals 5-3 in 11 innings. “Hey Tim, did I ever tell you about the time I won the home run derby at the Lewes Little League Park?” “Yes, Uncle Bill, I’ve got to go now and do an ESPN interview.” Bill’s late father-in-law Tim Moriarty is in the NHL Hall of Fame as a hockey writer who covered the New York Islanders for Newsday during its glory years. “Maureen, did you tell your dad about my home run derby title?” A factoid of moderate interest: I actually scooped the New York papers in Tim Moriarty’s induction into the hall of fame. I just picked up the information at a “Schab party” and didn’t know it was embargoed. Lydia Hastings lofted a shot and goal over the Georgetown goalie midway through the second half, breaking a scoreless tie, and the University of Maryland went on to beat the Hoyas 2-1 April 3. Lydia is an athlete from Rehoboth who played for Cape Henlopen. Tyler Townsend stroked a ninth-inning single in his only at bat for the major league Baltimore Orioles in the last spring training game. Tyler was scheduled to report to the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League April 4. Mike Flacco - yes, we all know his brother - is listed as a first baseman for the Keys. The Frederick Keys are considered high-level A ball. Google “Frederick” and pray my face doesn’t pop up. Personally - and I know nothing - I expect Tyler to quickly move to the Double A Bowie Baysox, which boasts such veterans as Harold Banes and Fernando Valenzuela. Notre Dame versus Texas A & M are in the women’s national championship game Tuesday, April 5. How many had the Irish in their pool? That’s why you should keep the cover on until after St. Patrick’s Day. Sydney Colson of Texas A & M drove the length of the floor and found a cutting Tyra White for a layup with 3.3 seconds left to give the Aggies a thrilling 63-62 win over Stanford. Colson’s pass was the absolute best bounce pass I have ever seen in a pressure situation. It was a “No, she didn’t” pass, which proves that the only intelligences that matter are the “read on the run” kind. Go on now, git!