Athletes play four years then graduate, it’s a sentimental journey

Mikaylah sunrise - I was walking behind the Cape goalie cage with two weeks remaining in the season when goalie coach Bruce Leibu with a barrely voice said, “Good stop, Mikaylah!” I chimed in, “Just another Mikaylah sunrise.” Bruce started to sing the Eagles song first released in 1973, a mere 50 years earlier. The colors of an ocean sunrise fit Makaylah Lindsay’s personality. I’ve known her since she played at Beacon as an eighth-grader on the boys’ team. “It's another tequila sunrise. This old world still looks the same. Another frame.” The world of Cape girls’ lacrosse will not look the same without Mikaylah Lindsay. She is heading to Winthrop University to play lacrosse. 

Cub reporter - I worked with cub reporter Joe Clancy when he got his first job in journalism at the Whale newspaper in 1987. Joe and his wife Sam and three boys all ran in the Father’s Day 5K June 18. As written in the Pauick Report, “Joe Clancy, editor of Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred magazine and co-owner with brother Sean of ST Publishing, Inc. – parent company of The Saratoga Special newspaper and thisishorseracing.com – has been named recipient of the 2022 Old Hilltop Award for covering thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction.” Clancy was presented with the Old Hilltop May 19 at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course. The report continues, “The Alibi Breakfast began in the 1930s on the porch of the old Pimlico Clubhouse and features a gathering of media, owners, trainers, jockeys, horsemen and fans to celebrate the Preakness and gain interesting and humorous race predictions. Clancy grew up with horses and worked for his father, trainer Joe Clancy Sr., through high school and college. The 1987 University of Delaware graduate covered his first Preakness for Maryland's Cecil Whig newspaper in 1990 (Summer Squall) and has written about racing and other topics for the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun and others. Joe and his wife Sam live in Fair Hill, Md. They are the parents of three sons – Ryan, Jack and Nolan.”

Open Water Swim Club - A lower Delaware thing. Plug into the network through Facebook and you meet Chris Noonan Sturm, Jim Weber and other small groups that get together to swim in the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. A few swimmers from Dewey are also part of the group. Most open water swimmers swim with a soft buoy for safety reasons. And let's hope the jellyfish stay away.

COVID negative - I was moving slower than usual last weekend covering the Seashore Striders’ Triple Crown series. I am virtually never sick and I have no vices, so I’m always on my game. But I was running hot like a ‘58 Buick with pinholes in the radiator. I’d be good, then heat up to 101.8. I had no interest in eating and watched the College World Series under the covers. On Monday, I wrote a column and a race story and it was hard because I couldn’t concentrate, plus funny and fluey just don’t go together. The home COVID test on Wednesday was negative. I wore a hoodie at the Sunday morning race in Rehoboth. Runner Rick Poppleton, 70, said to me, “I see a lot of old guys in Rehoboth walking their dogs early in the morning. They're all wearing hoodies.” 

Snippets - Cape has a procedure for school choice applications that has nothing to do with sports. The statewide system is not “sports choice,” but I am hearing stories of recruiting where the rich get richer. Just look at any high school sports roster and see if you can find the best players on that school’s middle school teams. The Beach Blast lacrosse tournament comes to Cape this Saturday and Sunday, June 24-25. The weather forecast is iffy with potentially soaked fields and scattered thunderstorms. The tournament has evolved into a middle school showcase. The Eastern Shore Lacrosse Club has four teams in the tournament. ESLC’s two older teams will be playing at the Project 120 tournament at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. Cape hockey looks strong at open field practice, with nine starters returning and a strong freshman class. Cape will host Smyrna in an early season showdown Sept. 14 and Delmar Oct. 19. Cape opens the football season at home Aug. 31, hosting Red Lion. Red Lion was 7-3 last season. Go on now, git!