St. Mark’s receiver Jamai Rice – shown here scoring past Caravel’s Jacob Laznik – caught 15 passes in a 24-0 victory over Hodgson last Friday.

Not many high school running backs get 15 carries in a game.

So when a receiver catches 15 passes, it’s a pretty big deal.

That’s what senior Jamai Rice of St. Mark’s did during Friday night’s 24-0 win over Hodgson. Quarterback Billy Sullivan repeatedly connected with Rice for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

“It’s what he does after contact that makes him so special,” St. Mark’s coach John Wilson said Monday. “You never know what’s going to happen when he touches the ball. It’s usually something positive, so we want to try to get him as many touches as possible.”

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Rice is the Spartans’ leading receiver (35 catches, 454 yards, 6 touchdowns) and second-leading rusher (49 carries, 255 yards, 2 TDs). He also returns punts and kickoffs and had an interception against Hodgson.

“We’ve been trying to find as many different opportunities to get him the ball,” Wilson said. “… He’s definitely been the guy. We’re trying to find some other guys to help complement him.”

The Spartans struggled early, starting 0-2 while losing top running back Tyler Kaczmarczyk and left tackle P.J. Groves to season-ending injuries in the first two games. But Rice scored all four touchdowns in a 28-14 victory over Caravel. He threw a 33-yard touchdown pass and accounted for 127 yards of total offense in a narrow, 20-16 loss to St. Georges – the top-ranked team in Division II.

St. Mark’s has battled back to 4-4 with two games remaining – vs. St. Elizabeth at Baynard Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday, and the traditional rivalry meeting with Salesianum on Nov. 12 at Delaware Stadium. The Spartans will get a playoff points boost from playing an extremely difficult schedule, but may need to win both games to reach the eight-team postseason field in Division II.

“Let’s get through this week here, and then with one game remaining let’s see where we stand,” Wilson said. “I know there are a lot of bonus points out there, but I also know a lot of things have to go our way with certain teams losing, too. We’ve got to take care of our end of the deal.”

Starting a new streak

After Salesianum ended William Penn’s 19-game football winning streak with a 30-13 victory on Saturday, Colonials coach Marvin Dooley focused on starting a new, four-game run.

That’s the length of streak William Penn will need to defeat Charter of Wilmington and Delcastle to finish the regular season, then win two playoff games to defend its DIAA Division I state title.

“I think some of the pressure will be off now,” Dooley said. “I never talked about the streak, but everybody walking the hallways in school talks about it. Now it’s over. Now we can just go play football.”

Dooley is confident his team will bounce back after losing for the first time since Nov. 16, 2013, when Caesar Rodney dropped the Colonials 49-33 in the first round of the playoffs.

“I want them to remember this feeling,” Dooley said. “Because the last time we felt it was down at Caesar Rodney. If we respond like we did then, we’re going to be good. Those guys took that loss hard, and they came back to work hard.”

Reeder, Sals end Colonials’ win streak

Sals in a rush

Colby Reeder got most of the attention for Salesianum after rushing for 173 yards and scoring all four touchdowns against William Penn. But the Sals’ pass rush also was a big key to their success.

“They’ve gotten better every single week,” Sallies coach Bill DiNardo said of his defensive front. “Kyle Cathers is a proven person there, Marek Easton has come on, and our linebackers do a very, very good job.”

The Sals registered 12 sacks in a 21-7 win over Dover two weeks ago. On Saturday, they sacked William Penn quarterback D.J. Johnson three times, forced him to scramble three other times and prompted the three-year starter to rush a few throws.

Johnson did complete 9 of 16 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, both to Chichi Amachi.

“D.J. didn’t play his best game, but it’s hard to play your best game when you’re on the run that often,” Dooley said.

Field hockey showdown

No. 1 Cape Henlopen (14-0) was scheduled to travel to No. 2 Delmar (13-0-1) for their annual field hockey battle on Oct. 1. But a forecast of heavy rain that day prompted them to push the showdown to 3 p.m. Tuesday – the last game of the regular season for both teams.

“I think it’s great that we get to play them right before we go into the playoffs,” Delmar coach Jodi Hollamon said. “I think it’s a great thing for both teams that Mother Nature stepped in and we didn’t play when it was scheduled.”

The Vikings have won the last four state championships, have won 81 games in a row against Delaware opponents and are riding an overall 68-game unbeaten streak. But the Wildcats have often come close to breaking those streaks over the years.

Delmar lost to Cape by one goal – 3-2, 2-1 and 1-0 – in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 state championship games. The Wildcats also took the Vikings into overtime before falling 2-1 on Oct. 1, 2013 – the last time the teams met in Delmar.

“They have a winning tradition, and they know how to win,” Hollamon said of Cape. “Without a doubt, they finish around the goal cage. But if the right team comes along and has a great game against them, I do think they are beatable.”

Delmar lost to Polytech in the state quarterfinals last season. But the Wildcats gained a little regular-season revenge on Oct. 8, as Hailey Bitters scored the tying goal with 16 seconds left and Paige Twilley-Webster found the cage in overtime for a 3-2 win over the Panthers.

Twilley-Webster, a senior, is Delmar’s top attacker and leader.

“She is absolutely leading the charge,” Hollamon said. “She’s intense, and she keeps everyone else intense. She creates things offensively with her speed.”

Rounding it up

— The Henlopen Conference boys soccer championship game will be played at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Briggs Stadium in Milford, with Northern Division champion Cape Henlopen taking on Southern Division winner Indian River. The teams met during the regular season, with Cape winning 2-1 at IR on Sept. 29. Admission is $7.

— The Newark Charter boys cross country team won the first varsity conference championship in school history at the Diamond State meet Oct. 22 at Brandywine Creek State Park. Bryan Delle Donne (second), Owen Crosby (third) and Noah Seador (sixth) led the way.

The Patriots’ volleyball team will make the first state tournament appearance in school history on Thursday. Newark Charter (9-6) earned the 21st seed and will play at 12th-seeded Tower Hill (10-5) at 6 p.m.

— Caravel is seeking an assistant coach for softball. Email athletic director Bill Perdew at adcaravel@caravel.org for more information.

— Tuesday will be A.I. du Pont athletics night at the Olive Garden restaurant at 305 Rocky Run Parkway, just off U.S. 202 in Brandywine Hundred. Ten percent of the restaurant’s sales will be donated to the A.I. athletic department.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: BradMyersTNJ

Mount Pleasant’s Isaiah McCready (73) and Franklin Horne pursue Middletown’s Anthony DelPercio. The Green Knights will meet Smyrna in the first round of the Division I playoffs on Friday night.

The usual contenders – Salesianum, William Penn, Middletown, Sussex Tech – were in the field when the DIAA Division I football playoff seedings were announced Sunday.

But two newcomers – Mount Pleasant and Smyrna – added some spice to the six-team field. And the Green Knights and Eagles will meet in the first round at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Smyrna.

Coach Randy Holmes said Mount Pleasant hasn’t reached the postseason since 1981, when the Green Knights defeated Archmere 28-14 for the Division II title. Mount Pleasant’s run to the playoffs is even more remarkable because the school’s athletic teams moved up to Blue Hen Flight A and Division I this year.

“We knew it was going to be special if we stayed in Flight B,” Holmes said. “We knew what kind of athletes we had. I kind of knew those kids were going to be decent seniors when they were in ninth grade.

“When we got the word late in the year last year that we were moving up, we didn’t know what to expect. We knew everybody in Flight B very well. Now, we had to deal with the unknown in Flight A.”

The Green Knights dealt with it well, finishing 7-3 overall and 5-3 in Flight A. Now they will meet a Smyrna team that lasted reached the postseason in 2003.

“I kind of hinted that it would be fun to play Smyrna, just to see how that game would turn out,” Holmes said. “It’s coming true.

“I think I’ve got some pretty good athletes in the defensive backfield, and I’ve definitely got some great athletes at wide receiver,” Holmes added. “It’s definitely going to be a matchup of athletes, and just like every week, what happens in those trenches is going to really make a difference.”

Smyrna continued its amazing improvement under second-year coach Mike Judy, from 2-8 two years ago to 5-5 last year to 9-1 and the Henlopen North championship this season. Like Holmes, he sees similarities in his team and Mount Pleasant.

“We’re actually kind of alike. We look a little different, but the concept is the same,” Judy said. “We try to get the big plays on the outside, and soften you up up the middle.”

The Eagles are averaging an overwhelming 55 points per game, and even scored 56 in the game they lost – when Salesianum scored 76. But Judy said the key may be on defense, where the teams also employ similar concepts.

No. 1 DMA captures first volleyball state title in undefeated season

“We know how to defend them,” the Smyrna coach said. “It’s a matter of can we defend them, with all the great speed and athleticism they have. It’s going to be a huge challenge.”

Silver Eagles are in

Hodgson needed several things to happen to reach the Division II football playoffs. Somehow, it all fell in line for the Silver Eagles.

Hodgson coach Frank Moffett listened to the Lake Forest-Milford game on Friday night, rooting for a Lake Forest victory. That, combined with wins by Howard, St. Georges and Delaware Military Academy, boosted Hodgson up to an eighth-place tie with Milford in the DIAA points system. The Silver Eagles grabbed the final playoff spot on the second tiebreaker, as their opponents combined for more victories than Milford (44-40).

“We’ve had ups and downs with a lot of kids in new positions,” Moffett said of his team, which finished 6-4 with a 46-0 win over Brandywine. “We’ve had to play some new kids in different spots. … We knew we would go through some growing pains.”

Top running back DeJuan Outlaw (361 yards, 6 TDs) was lost for the season because of a knee injury against Howard in the fourth game of the season. The Silver Eagles also lost starting quarterback Bryon Cowen, but had junior Marc Perez-Echevarria (316 rushing yards, 7 TDs) step in capably. Hodgson is also getting rushing production from two sophomores – Tymier Sewell (342 yards, 5 TDs) and Sea’queris Wiggins (260 yards, 2 TDs).

Now, the two-time defending D-II champion Silver Eagles face an 11 a.m. Saturday kickoff at top-seeded St. Georges, which pummeled Hodgson 47-0 on Oct. 17.

“We went into halftime only down 14-0,” Moffett said. “If we had made a play here or a play there, but there were things we didn’t do well in that game. A lot of it wasn’t about what they did, it was about what we didn’t do.”

Sign ’em up

Last Wednesday marked the start of one of three periods in which high school seniors are allowed to sign a national letter of intent to continue their athletic career in college. Dozens of Delaware seniors made their decisions official, and here’s a rundown.

Softball: Hodgson’s Courtney Dellinger (Delaware) and Kendra Ziemba (East Carolina), DMA’s Kylie Quirk (Goldey-Beacom), Red Lion Christian’s Noelle Holiday (Georgetown), Polytech’s Whitney DeMora (Wilmington University), Taylor Pechin (Stony Brook) and Hayley Friess (University of Charleston); Wilmington Christian’s Daniela Solis (Caldwell).

Women’s basketball: Woodbridge’s Altia Anderson (Marquette), St. Andrew’s Olivia Gumbs (Lafayette), Ursuline’s Alyssa Irons (Southern Connecticut State), Sanford’s Taylor Sparks-Faulkner (Florida Southern).

Athlete of Week: Altia Anderson

Men’s basketball: Sanford’s Mikey Dixon (Quinnipiac).

Swimming: A.I. du Pont’s Alicia Diaz (Drexel), Salesianum’s Jack Portmann (West Virginia).

Baseball: St. Mark’s Andrew Reich (Delaware), Salesianum’s Nick Robino (Wagner College), Middletown’s Colin Peluse (Wake Forest), Dover’s Jordan Hutchins (Delaware) and Garrett Lawson (Delaware State).

Volleyball: St. Mark’s Addison Reich (Wilmington University) and Kara Wirt (Millersville).

Cross country: Salesianum’s Andrew Hally (Penn).

Men’s lacrosse: Salesianum’s Patrick Lyons (North Carolina) and Luke Bianchino (Delaware), Sussex Tech’s Nathan Hanenfeld (Catawba College), Tower Hill’s Doug McCoy (Furman).

Women’s lacrosse: Charter of Wilmington’s Jordan Wood (Davidson), Polytech’s Jamie Trabaudo (North Carolina), Brandywine’s Cady Burnside (Mansfield).

Golf: Salesianum’s Reed Winkler (St. Joseph’s).

Field hockey: Cape Henlopen’s Tess Bernheimer (Drexel), Lizzie Frederick (Temple) and Sydney Ostroski (West Chester); Polytech’s Alison McKay (Bloomsburg), Padua’s Molly Bobjak (Kutztown), Caesar Rodney’s Tara Daddio (Salisbury), Sanford’s Carter Ayars (Louisville), Mount Pleasant’s Kate Walker (Michigan) and Wilmington Christian’s Jenny Kurlej, Sydney Baffone and Annika Roberts (all Liberty) and Jenna Johnson (Towson).

Rowing: Conrad’s Tara Carr (Louisville), Mercersburg Academy’s Kate Hastings, a Wilmington resident (Virginia).

Rounding it up

• The Newark High boys basketball team will host a free, one-hour basketball clinic for ages 7-13 at 11 a.m. Saturday at Newark High. Also, Newark FCA will give families that sign up a complete Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Registration is required, and the dinner giveaway will take place after the clinic. To sign up, call Kevin Scannell at (302) 631-4700 ext. 14430 or email NewarkFCA@gmail.com.

Delaware athletes sign to play college sports

• Football players from Caravel outdueled football players from William Penn and baseball players from Conrad and Hodgson in a rib-eating contest on Sunday at Texas Roadhouse in Bear. The event raised funds for Easter Seals.

• Polytech has received approval to start boys and girls swimming teams in the 2016-17 school year.

• Salesianum (12-3-1) has moved into the USA Today/National Soccer Coaches Association national boys soccer rankings at No. 24.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Sanford senior Carter Ayars signs to play field hockey at Louisville.

The early period for high school athletes to sign National Letters of Intent and accept scholarships to play college sports runs until next Wednesday. To have a name added to this list, or to submit signing ceremony photos, email to sports@delawareonline.com.

Altia Anderson,Woodbridge, basketball, Marquette

Carter Ayars, Sanford, field hockey, Louisville

Sydney Baffone, Wilmington Christian, field hockey, Liberty

Tess Bernheimer, Cape Henlopen, field hockey, Drexel

Luke Bianchino, Salesianum, lacrosse, Delaware

Molly Bobjak, Padua, field hockey, Kutztown

Holly Brooks, Caravel, softball, Campbell

Cady Burnside, Brandywine, lacrosse, Mansfield

Rosa’lynn Burton, Caesar Rodney, softball, UMBC

Bryce Carney, Caravel, baseball, Wilmington University

Tara Carr, Conrad, rowing, Louisville

Delaney Chrisco, Caravel, lacrosse, Saint Leo

Tara Daddio, Caesar Rodney, field hockey, Salisbury

Courtney Dellinger, Hodgson, softball, Delaware

Whitney DeMora, Polytech, softball, Wilmington

Alicia Diaz, A.I. du Pont, swimming, Drexel

Mikey Dixon, Sanford, basketball, Quinnipiac

Samantha Esper, Caravel, softball, Messiah

Brandon Fraley, Caravel, baseball, Tulane

Lizzie Frederick, Cape Henlopen, lacrosse, Temple

Hayley Friess, Polytech, softball, Charleston (West Virginia)

Jared Gillis, Smyrna, baseball, Delaware State

Olivia Gumbs, St. Andrew’s, basketball, Lafayette

Andrew Hally, Salesianum, track & field, Penn

Nathan Hanenfeld, Sussex Tech, lacrosse, Catawba

Kate Hastings, Wilmington native, rowing, Virginia

Noelle Holiday, Red Lion Christian, softball, Georgetown

Jordan Hutchins, Dover, baseball, Delaware

Alyssa Irons, Ursuline, basketball, Southern Connecticut State

Quinton Ivy, Caesar Rodney, baseball, George Washington

Elizabeth Jogani, Archmere, swimming, Delaware

Jenna Johnson, Wilmington Christian, field hockey, Towson

Chloe Kennedy, Caravel, softball, Lock Haven

Jenny Kurlej, Wilmington Christian, field hockey, Liberty

Garrett Lawson, Dover, baseball, Delaware State

Maia Lee, Padua, field hockey, Newberry

Patrick Lyons, Salesianum, lacrosse, North Carolina

Doug McCoy, Tower Hill, lacrosse, Furman

Abagail McGowan, Caesar Rodney, lacrosse, Charleston (West Virginia)

Alison McKay, Polytech, field hockey, Bloomsburg

Andrew Orzel, Archmere, baseball, Wofford

Sydney Ostroski, Cape Henlopen, field hockey, West Chester

Taylor Pechin, Polytech, softball, Stony Brook

Colin Peluse, Middletown, baseball, Wake Forest

Jack Portmann, Salesianum, swimming, West Virginia

Maddie Price, Smyrna, field hockey, Shenandoah

Lindsey Pugh, Caravel, volleyball, Susquehanna

Kylie Quirk, Delaware Military Academy, softball, Goldey-Beacom

Luke Rankin, Caesar Rodney, lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University

Addison Reich, St. Mark’s, volleyball, Wilmington

Andrew Reich, St. Mark’s, baseball, Delaware

Benjamin Revak, Archmere, lacrosse, UMBC

Annika Roberts, Wilmington Christian, field hockey, Liberty

Nick Robino, Salesianum, baseball, Wagner

Ryan Seymour, Smyrna, baseball, Delaware State

Lee Smith, Caravel, baseball, Cabrini

Daniela Solis, Wilmington Christian, softball, Caldwell

Taylor Sparks-Faulkner, Sanford, basketball, Florida Southern

Jamie Trabaudo, Polytech, lacrosse, North Carolina

Kate Walker, Mount Pleasant,  field hockey, Michigan

Reed Winkler, Salesianum, golf, Saint Joseph’s

Kara Wirt, St. Mark’s, volleyball, Millersville

Jordan Wood, Charter of Wilmington, lacrosse, Davidson

Kendra Ziemba, Hodgson, softball, East Carolina

Howard running back Gerald Wiggins, shown here against Glasgow, will lead the Wildcats against Friends in the DIAA Division II semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday at Tower Hill’s DeGroat Field.

Put down those shopping bags and get ready to watch some high school football.

The DIAA Football Tournament is rolling out a Black Friday doubleheader. Howard will take on Wilmington Friends in a Division II semifinal at 1 p.m. at Tower Hill’s DeGroat Field, followed by Middletown against Salesianum in a Division I semifinal at 7:30 p.m. at Baynard Stadium.

“It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving. It’s a day when a lot of people are off work,” DIAA executive director Kevin Charles said Monday. “It gives us an opportunity to almost have that Thanksgiving game feel. We’ve done it once or twice before and had a nice turnout.”

The other two semifinals will kick off at the same time – 1 p.m. Saturday. Smyrna will travel to William Penn in Division I, and Woodbridge will take the ride to St. Georges in Division II.

For the most dedicated fans, there is another advantage to the staggered scheduling.

“You can make it to three different games if that’s what you want to do,” Charles said.

The schedule for the Dec. 5 championship games has also changed from the previous two years. The Division I final will be played first this year, at 1 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. Then DIAA and Special Olympics Delaware will hold two Unified Flag Football games involving four Delaware high schools. The Division II championship game will be played under the lights, with kickoff at 5:30 p.m.

Remembering Bob Hukill

Bob Hukill, who went from first-team All-State at Wilmington Friends in 1974 to an NFL draft pick, died Nov. 12 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was 58.

Hukill, who grew up in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, played college football at North Carolina, where he started on the offensive line for the Tar Heels from 1976-78, mostly at right tackle.

He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round in 1979, and was later traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Hukill went on to become a commercial lender at Wachovia Bank, then spent 33 years at GrandBridge Real Estate Capital, eventually becoming senior vice president.

A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Church I.U., 25328 Lambs Meadow Road in Worton, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to consider a donation to Wilmington Friends School, Hukill Athletic Endowment, 101 School Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.

More signings

Some of Delaware’s top high school senior athletes continue to make their college destinations official. Those signing national letters of intent in the past week include:

Field hockey: Woodbridge’s Sara Davis (Massachusetts), Smyrna’s Madeline Price (Shenandoah, where she will also play women’s lacrosse), Padua’s Maia Lee (Newberry).

Baseball: Caravel’s Brandon Fraley (Tulane), Lee Smith (Cabrini), Bryce Carney (Wilmington University) and Troy Marenco (Lincoln University); Caesar Rodney’s Quintin Ivy (George Washington), Smyrna’s Ryan Seymour and Jared Gillis (Delaware State), Archmere’s Andrew Orzel (Wofford).

Men’s lacrosse: Archmere’s Ben Revak (UMBC), Caesar Rodney’s Luke Rankin (Colorado Mesa).

Cross country: Caesar Rodney’s Jeanette and Nikki Beers (Wilmington University).

Softball: Caravel’s Holly Brooks (Campbell), Samantha Esper (Messiah) and Chloe Kennedy (Lock Haven); Caesar Rodney’s Rosa’lynn Burton (UMBC).

Women’s lacrosse: Caravel’s Delaney Chrisco (St. Leo), Caesar Rodney’s Abigail McGowan (University of Charleston).

Volleyball: Caravel’s Lindsey Pugh (Susquehanna).

Swimming: Archmere’s Elizabeth Jogani (Delaware).

Diamond State schedule

The opening-round matchups for the Diamond State Classic have been released. The high school girls basketball tournament will mark its 25th anniversary Dec. 27-30 at St. Elizabeth High School.

Wilmington Friends will kick it off against William Penn at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, in a New Castle Insurance Cup game. St. Mark’s will follow against Oxford (Pennsylvania) in another New Castle Insurance Cup game at 11:45.

Then the four first-round games in the Saint Francis Healthcare Cup – the eight-team national bracket – will be played. St. Rose (New Jersey) will meet Archbishop Spalding (Maryland) at 1:30 p.m., followed by Bishop Loughlin (New York) against Neumann Goretti (Pennsylvania) at 3:15.

Following the tournament’s opening ceremonies at 5, Long Island Lutheran (New York) will play Central Dauphin East (Pennsylvania) at 6. Then Ursuline, the only Delaware team in the national bracket this year, will take on Jamesville Dewitt (New York) at 7:30.

The consolation game of the New Castle Insurance Cup will start the action on Monday, Dec. 28, at 10:45 a.m. Then two First State Orthopaedics Cup games will follow – Caravel vs. Seton Keough (Maryland) at 12:30 p.m. and Padua against Central Bucks East (Pennsylvania) at 2:15.

The championship game of the New Castle Insurance Cup will be played at 4, followed by two Delaware Cup games. Howard will meet Caesar Rodney at 5:45, with host St. Elizabeth taking on Damascus (Maryland) at 7:30.

The matchups for the final two days will be determined by the winners and losers from the first two days.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Salesianum’s Colby Reeder (center) receives the first Maxwell Football Club Delaware Player of the Year award from Ed Aiken (left), the club’s Delaware committee chairman, and Maxwell Football Club executive director Mark Wolpert.

Colby Reeder always keeps up with his weightlifting, and that came in handy on Monday night.

The Salesianum football star received two plaques as a first-team All-State running back and defensive back at the 12th annual Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association awards banquet at Dover Downs. He also received a trophy for being named Delaware’s Defensive Player of the Year.

And Reeder also picked up a new, prestigious award. The Maxwell Football Club, a Philadelphia-based organization founded in 1935, expanded its reach to the First State for the first time this football season. Reeder was among 32 players nominated statewide, and he took home the trophy as Maxwell Football Club Delaware Player of the Year.

Maxwell is the only football club that recognizes excellence in the sport all the way from high school to the NFL. As part of his award, Reeder will be recognized at the club’s annual awards gala on March 11 at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Reeder will join Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and coach Ron Rivera, Alabama running back Derrick Henry and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney in being honored. Wesley College quarterback Joe Callahan will also attend as the winner of the Brian Westbrook Tri-State Player of the Year Award, given to the top college player in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“I’m extremely honored,” Reeder said. “I didn’t know I had won until they announced my name, and to be the first is just incredible. To be going up there to Atlantic City with Cam Newton and those guys should be an amazing experience.”

The Maxwell honor caps a season in which Reeder rushed for 2,010 yards and 32 touchdowns and had 56 tackles and six blocked kicks on defense. He recently announced his commitment to continue his football career at the University of Delaware, where he will join his brother, Troy, who is transferring from Penn State.

Reeder said the only thing that kept it from being a perfect senior season was a 32-26, overtime loss to Smyrna in the DIAA Division I championship game.

“It was a storybook year, really, except for the ending,” Reeder said. “I achieved all of the goals I wanted. It was great to win the awards, and my teammates won a ton of awards here, too.”

Maxwell Football Club executive director Mark Wolpert and Ed Aiken, chairman of Maxwell’s Delaware football committee, presented the award to Reeder. After attending banquets involving hundreds of high school teams in Pennsylvania and New Jersey the last two weeks, Wolpert said the club was happy to expand its programs to Delaware.

“You can bring everyone together in one place, which is impossible to do in the other states,” Wolpert said. “There’s a uniqueness to that that I hope you can appreciate. The touch that you have with your competitors, the other schools, the other coaches in a tight-knit state that plays great football is really special.”

Honoring coaches

Smyrna’s Mike Judy (Division I) and Howard’s Dan Ritter (Division II) each received a DIFCA Coach of the Year award after guiding their teams to each school’s first state football titles.

Mike Brogan, an assistant coach at Newark since 1986, received the Ed Brown Award as the state’s assistant coach of the year.

Butch Simpson, who retired at the end of the season to cap 39 years as head coach at Newark, received a DIFCA award and also received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Salesianum’s Bill DiNardo received a plaque from DIFCA to recognize his 250th career coaching victory.

All third-, second- and first-team All-State players were honored at the DIFCA banquet, and sportsmanship awards were given to a player from each team in the state.

Rounding it up

— Heart in the Game’s seventh health event will be held Saturday at P.S. du Pont Middle School, 701 West 34th Street in Wilmington. Free EKG and blood pressure screenings will be offered for all Delaware students ages 10-19, along with CPR/AED training for students and parents and other health-related stations. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can ensure a spot by registering in advance at www.heartinthegame.org.

— Caravel Academy is hosting its own Wing Bowl – minus all of the debauchery of the annual event in Philadelphia – from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the Caravel gym. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students, and proceeds will go to the Caravel Blue-Gold Club.

— Charter of Wilmington’s Kevin Murray has been named the Gatorade Delaware Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

— Appoquinimink is seeking head coaches for freshman baseball, junior varsity softball, girls tennis and boys tennis and an assistant coach for track and field. Submit a letter of interest and resume to brian.bell@appo.k12.de.us or jordan.legath@appo.k12.de.us by 3 p.m. Feb. 3.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (right) flexes with guards Raheim Burnett (left) and Keon Taylor (center) during practice on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (left) sweeps up the gym with help from RonneŽ Potts (right) on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (left) sweeps up the gym with help from RonneŽ Potts (right) on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell hangs up players’ uniforms in the team room on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell hangs up players’ uniforms in the team room on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (left) passes out Gatorade to players during practice on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (right) loads up a washing machine with team uniforms with help from RonneŽ Potts (center) and Hollan Brockenbrough (left) on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (right) loads up a washing machine with team uniforms with help from RonneŽ Potts (left) on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (right) makes Gatorade for players with Hollan Brockenbrough on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell (left) gets shooting tips from guard Raheim Burnett during practice on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell passes out practice jerseys to players at the start of practice on Monday evening.

Mount Pleasant boy’s basketball team manager Creston Campbell hangs up players’ uniforms in the team room on Monday evening.

Creston Campbell didn’t want to go to high school.

He didn’t want to face the transition from middle school that is scary for every freshman. He didn’t want to go from being among the oldest students to the youngest, lose friends who go to other schools, and have to find his way through a new building.

The hurdles are even higher for Creston, because he is autistic. But when his parents were searching for a way to make the move to Mount Pleasant High School a little easier, they received an unexpected surprise.

Members of the Green Knights’ highly successful boys basketball team – led by senior first-team All-State guard Raheim Burnett – accepted Creston as their friend and manager over the summer. Now, you could say the 6-foot-6 freshman with bright red hair is the big man on campus.

“I didn’t know who Raheim was. I didn’t know Raheim was the player he is. I had no clue,” said Mary Kate Campbell, Creston’s mother. “Very quietly, Raheim took Creston under his wing and became his peer mentor.

“All of a sudden, Creston goes from saying, ‘I’m not going to go to high school. It’s too big, it’s too scary,’ to walking into his first day of high school having a friend. It changed everything.”

Creston isn’t the only one who has benefitted.

Delaware high school basketball rankings

“If I have a bad day or don’t want to come to school, I come so Creston can see me,” Burnett said. “Creston can help my day, and I can help Creston’s day.”

Mount Pleasant (18-3) defeated William Penn to win the Blue Hen Flight A title on Feb. 24, then downed St. Georges for the Blue Hen Conference overall championship last Saturday.

The Green Knights earned the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament. Mount Pleasant will start its postseason run at home at 7 p.m. Friday against the winner of Wednesday’s Cape Henlopen-Newark game.

Creston will be courtside, keeping statistics, distributing water to thirsty players and giving them a simple command. Win.

Except Creston rarely says, “win.” He shortens wins and losses to Ws and Ls.

“No Ls. I hate them,” he said after the Green Knights downed William Penn. “I need Ws. We need to keep winning.”

Making the move

Creston’s parents were just hoping to acclimate him to Mount Pleasant by taking him through the school last summer. Creston had participated in several Special Olympics Delaware events, and Jon Buzby, SODE’s director of media relations and program innovations, told Mary Kate Campbell that Mount Pleasant boys basketball coach Lisa Sullivan often opened the gym and allowed anyone to come in and play.

Mary Kate and Creston went to the gym and saw about 40 athletes, including most of the Green Knights’ varsity team. But they were anything but intimidating.

They were excited.

“When he came in I was like, ‘Whoa, we’ve got some big 6-6 kid now on the basketball team,’” Burnett said. “He started making layups, and then his mom told me about Creston’s autism.

“I thought it would be cool just to talk to him and see how he thinks. He was actually a good kid, and he was nice, and he liked being around us. So we accepted him as one of our teammates.”

Watching it all unfold warmed Sullivan’s heart.

“Creston’s mom identified a need,” the coach said. “She needed someone to just take him in, and I have a great group of kids. I didn’t even have to talk to them about it.

“Actually, when he walked into the gym they were like, ‘He’s playing, too!’ They have just accepted him. They love him, and they’ll take care of him.”

Mary Kate couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“What is so wonderful is just the way these boys embraced him,” she said. “Nobody asked them to, and nobody told them to do it.”

Off and running

When school started, Creston had no worries. He had friends.

“At first, he wouldn’t talk to us,” said senior Rob Myrick, a three-sport athlete who plays guard on the basketball team. “But after we showed affection and love to him, he started to open up to us. He eats lunch with us, and he comes to our classrooms and talks to us. We just try to help him out.”

Creston is part of the Brandywine School District’s Specialized Autism Program (BSAP). He is in a class with teacher Miranda Thompson for about 60 percent of the school day, then goes into inclusion settings and works with his peer mentor – Burnett.

“I think it’s awesome for Creston,” Thompson said. “He’s really opening up, becoming more social and making new friends, which is really important in your freshman year.”

The Green Knights’ athletes often drop in to visit Creston – and his classmates.

“When they come into my classroom, my kids are experiencing the socialization and the friendships that wouldn’t normally happen,” Thompson said. “Every day, six or seven kids come in to greet my students. Creston is the forerunner of that.”

The visits have also made Creston popular among his BSAP peers.

“They’re really starting to see Creston as the leader of making friends, and they’re thinking, ‘You know what, I can do that, too,’” Thompson said. “It’s really opening doors for all of the students.”

And the athletes’ behavior tends to improve when they’re around Creston.

“He motivates us, because he looks up to us,” senior guard Sharif Holland said. “Everything I do, I do the right things so he can see it and do the right things.”

“We won’t do certain things around him, because he catches on to things really fast,” Myrick said. “… We change when he comes around, in the things that we do outside of basketball.”

Thompson said athletes never visited her class before this year. The inclusive benefits are starting to spread all over the school.

“It’s opening their eyes to different people. They’re learning acceptance and empathy,” Thompson said. “They greet these kids in the hallway. They’ll sit with them at lunch, talk to them at breakfast.

“It’s the community of the school that they’re building, and it’s fantastic. You see the athletes doing it, and more kids want to be a part of that. It’s amazing.”

The comedian

Creston keeps his comments short and to the point, but sometimes adds a zinger that brings laughter from all around.

Asked to describe Burnett, he said, “He’s my peer mentor. He helps me in reading and math.”

Then, after a short pause, he added, “He’s kind of funny.” Burnett and his teammates cracked up.

He is learning to chart the team’s statistics, with help from fellow manager Ronnee’ Potts.

“We do the book together, and he pays attention to Sharif, Kyle [Brown] and Raheim,” Potts said. “Before, I would have to tell him who just scored or who just missed. But now, he’s catching on and saying, ‘Raheim just scored.’”

He also watches practice like a hawk, and often serves as Sullivan’s second set of eyes.

“At practice, you can’t lag,” Myrick said. “If you lag, he’ll tell you about it. He’ll say, ‘Come on, Rob, you’ve got to run fast. You’re not getting back fast enough. He’s beating you down the court every time.’

“He’ll tell you about it if you’re doing wrong. I call him a little big brother.”

But Creston also has a way of lightening the mood.

“He just always brings a positive atmosphere to the team,” said junior guard Sean Carroll, who has already been designated by Burnett to be Creston’s peer mentor next year. “He’s always smiling, and it makes all of us feel a lot better about ourselves.”

Carroll helped Creston practice and play on Mount Pleasant’s Unified flag football team during the DIAA/Special Olympics games on Dec. 5 at Delaware Stadium. Myrick is going to help Creston be part of the Green Knights’ Unified track team this spring, and will be Creston’s buddy in the Hand-in-Hand Program for the annual DFRC Blue-Gold All-Star football game in June.

But Creston is closest to Burnett, who recently teamed with him to earn a gold medal in Special Olympics basketball skills and a bronze in doubles bowling.

“Thumbs up,” Creston said. “Raheim was my partner. He showed me how to follow through.”

The inclusion

The athletes’ willingness to make Creston part of their lives has had an immeasurable impact.

“Creston is a kid who is not going to want to go to school if he doesn’t have the social aspect,” Mary Kate said. “I know it’s kind of backwards for autism, most people don’t think of it that way. But he likes to have friends, he likes to have activities, and he likes to be a part of things.”

Mary Kate and Cres Campbell – Creston’s father – made sure he had plenty of activities at P.S. du Pont Middle School, where he was manager of the softball team last spring. He has jumped right into the mix at Mount Pleasant, participating in the chorus and the school’s radio program, in addition to basketball.

“They’re the coolest kids to be a part of. It couldn’t be better, really,” Cres said of the athletes. “… He enjoys coming to school every day. We would have never thought that. It’s really never been this good, in terms of his interest in school.”

When Sullivan hears that, she knows this season has been a success.

“We’re humbled by the opportunity to be a difference in someone’s life,” the coach said. “I don’t think my team knows it and understands, but one day, they will. They’ll look back, and they’ll be proud of themselves.”

Of course, a few more Ws would be nice. The Green Knights will need four more wins to earn the school’s first boys basketball state championship since 1967 – the first year the tournament was contested. They lost to Salesianum in the semifinals last season, a fact that isn’t forgotten by Creston.

“He motivates me,” Burnett said. “The first day I saw him, the first thing he said was, ‘Y’all took an L against Sallies last year. You can’t take an L. You’ve got to take all Ws this year.’”

The Green Knights have already scored a giant ‘W’ with the big man on campus.

“They have changed Creston’s life. They really did,” Mary Kate said. “They set him up for a really nice transition into high school, and created opportunities that were not there before. I don’t know if they understand the impact they have had on his life.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Zach Flowers and the University of Delaware baseball team swept Fairfield on Saturday.

NEWARK – The University of Delaware posted two more comeback wins Saturday afternoon as the Blue Hens used timely hitting and pitching to finish off a weekend sweep over Fairfield by taking both ends of a baseball doubleheader under rainy and raw conditions at Bob Hannah Stadium. Delaware (15-5), winners in 10 of its last 11 games, won the first game 4-3 as the Hens scored three runs in the third and then scored the game-winner in the sixth on a fielder’s choice groundout. In the nightcap, the Hens overcame a 6-0 deficit by erupting for six runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and three more in the eighth to post an 11-6 triumph. Combined with the 22-6 win over Fairfield (4-11) on Friday, the Hens swept a series for the second straight weekend.

BASEBALL

Delaware State 9, Norfolk State 5 (Game 1); Delaware State 5, Norfolk State 3 (Game 2)

The Hornets picked a good time to pick up its first two wins of the season as they opened MEAC North play with a doubleheader sweep of defending division champ Norfolk State at Marty Miller Field on Saturday. In the opener, Austin Bentley was 4 for 6 with three runs batted in, while Jacob Bartlett and Sam Barber drove in two runs each to lead DSU’s season-high 16-hit attack. In the nightcap, Bartlett drove in two runs to lead the Hornets.

Wesley 10, Mary Washington 9 (Game 1); Mary Washington 8, Wesley 4 (Game 2)

The Wesley baseball team split a pair of Capital Athletic Conference contests against Mary Washington, winning game one behind a Joseph Hummel cycle. The Wolverines were unable to complete the doubleheader sweep. Hummel’s Game 1 effort included a single in the third, an RBI double in the fourth, a solo home run in the sixth, and a stand-up triple in the eighth to complete the cycle. The first baseman finished 4 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. In Game 2, the Wolverines took a 4-3 lead with two runs each in the bottom of the first and in the bottom of the third, but couldn’t manage any more offense the rest of the game.

MEN’S GOLF

Goldey-Beacom placed sixth at the Bear Trap Dunes Invite. Sophomore Andre Primeau shot a final-round 77 and finished tied for 21st at the Bear Trap Dunes Invitational in Ocean View.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

No. 10 Stony Brook 8, No. 22 Delaware 7

Down 8-3 with 15 minutes remaining, the Blue Hens rattled off four unanswered goals before they ran out of time Saturday afternoon at LaValle Stadium. The loss halts a six-game winning streak and is just the second of the season for Delaware (8-2).

No. 4 York 18, Wesley 0

The Wesley women’s lacrosse team struggled against one of the top-ranked teams in the nation on Saturday, falling to fourth-ranked York in a Capital Athletic Conference clash.

SOFTBALL

UMES 4, Delaware State 3 (Game 1); Delaware State 7, UMES 4 (Game 2)

The Delaware State softball team (8-13, 1-1 Mid Eastern Athletic Conference) opened MEAC play on the road Saturday afternoon with a loss to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (6-14, 1-1) for its fifth consecutive defeat, but bounced back later in the day with a victory. In Game 1, the Hawks scored three runs on three hits off reliever Alexis Goldsby in the sixth solidifying the win. The back end of Saturday’s doubleheader saw the Hornets erase a 1-0 deficit in the third with a three-run output in back-to-back at-bats with infielder Chloe Oro connecting for an RBI-double, followed by catcher Sandy Hawthorne homering over the left-center field wall off starter Kaitlyn Hitch.

Post 8, Goldey-Beacom 0 (Game 1); Post 5, Goldey-Beacom 1 (Game 2)

Post, in Game 1, scored all of the runs it would need in the third inning, opening a 3-0 lead. In Game 2, Post struck in the first inning when Kayla Kresley reached on a two-out error and Erica Ragazzone smacked a two-run shot for a 2-0 margin.

Wesley 10, Keystone 2 (Game 1); Wesley 9, Keystone 6 (Game 2)

The Wesley softball team earned a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon, defeating Keystone College in game one and walking off on a Nina Marcano three-run home run in Game 2 for a victory. Marcano finished the day with two home runs, one in each game. She went 4 for 9 from the plate with seven RBI in the two games combined. Lindsay Siok earned the win on the mound in both games for the Wolverines, starting in Game 1 and pitching three scoreless innings, and then finishing Game 2 with three innings pitched.

Saint Joseph’s 5, Delaware 3 (Game 1); Saint Joseph’s 7, Delaware 2 (Game 2)

The University of Delaware softball team dropped a nonconference doubleheader to Saint Joseph’s Saturday afternoon at the SJU Softball Field. Delaware now stands at 13-9.

Appoquinimink won the DIAA Baseball Tournament last June at Frawley Stadium, and the Jaguars will start the 2016 season ranked No. 1 by The News Journal.

BASEBALL

1. Appoquinimink

2. Caravel

3. St. Mark’s

4. Smyrna

5. St. Georges

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel

2. Polytech

3. Caesar Rodney

4. Appoquinimink

5. Delaware Military Academy

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum

2. Cape Henlopen

3. Caesar Rodney

4. Archmere

5. Appoquinimink

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen

2. Polytech

3. Tower Hill

4. Caravel

5. St. Mark’s

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua

2. Charter of Wilmington

3. Caesar Rodney

4. Sussex Tech

5. Concord

DIVISION II

1. Indian River

2. Caravel

3. Archmere

4. Wilmington Friends

5. Lake Forest

GOLF

1. Salesianum

2. Tower Hill

3. Charter of Wilmington

4. Caesar Rodney

5. Archmere

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney

2. Tower Hill

3. Tatnall

4. Wilmington Friends

5. St. Andrew’s

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill

2. Caesar Rodney

3. Archmere

4. Charter of Wilmington

5. St. Andrew’s

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Sussex Tech’s catcher Shannon Lord (7) tags out Sussex Central’s Kasie Simpson (14) as she runs to home plate.

Sussex Central’s Hayley McCabe (27) is greeted by her teammates after scoring to make the score 3-1 in their game against Sussex Tech.

Sussex Central’s Brooke Stoeckel (15) jumps in the air trying to catch a hit by Sussex Tech.

Sussex Tech’s Nicole Hovatter (2), left and teammate Brooke Ward (4) miss a fly ball in their out field in their game against Sussex Central.

Sussex Tech’s Nicole Hovatter (2), left misses a throw to third base letting Sussex Central’s Brooke Stoeckel (15) slide in safe.

Sussex Tech’s Jenna Calloway (13) makes a out at second base in their win against Sussex Central.

Sussex Central’s Morgan Burton (13) is all smiles after scoring in the 5th inning against Sussex Tech.

Sussex Central’s outfielder Kasie Siimpson (14) makes a catch in their game against Sussex Tech.

Sussex Central’s pitcher Hayley McCabe (27) pitches in their game against Sussex Tech.

Sussex Central’s Taylor Evick (12) takes a swing at a pitch in their game against Sussex Tech.

Sussex Tech’s pitcher Sarah James (10) pitches in the first inning against Sussex Central.

Sussex Tech’s Nicole Hovatter (2) misses a catch letting Sussex Central’s Mariah Rogers (22) slide safety into second base.

Sussex Tech’s pitcher Sarah James (10) pitches in the first inning against Sussex Central.

Sussex Tech’s Sarah James (8) runs home to make the score 1-0 in their game against Sussex Central.

Sussex Central’s Kailee Abbott (2) throws the ball to second base from the outfield in game against Sussex Tech.

GEORGETOWN – It ain’t over till it’s over.

Legendary New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra coined that phrase, and it applies just as well to softball. Especially on Tuesday, when Sussex Tech rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun Sussex Central 7-6 in the season opener for both teams.

“It’s a great springboard game for us, absolutely,” Ravens coach John Marvel said. “It just ignites everybody. There was a lot of excitement, a lot of kids got in the game, and everybody contributed.”

Sussex Tech trailed 6-1 when Jenna Calloway singled and Shannon Lord doubled to open the bottom of the seventh. The Golden Knights decided to relieve starting pitcher Hayley McCabe with Mika Walker, but the Ravens kept their rally going.

Pinch-hitter Alyssa Collins walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, pinch-hitter Laurie Wroten walked to drive in a run and Nicole Hovatter singled up the middle to plate another run.

Then Madison Watson came up with the big hit, a three-run triple to center to tie the game at 6.

“It was a lot of pressure,” Watson said. “I just had to get one hit to drive all the runs in. … We just had to relax and really buckle down and get good hits.”

Taylor Collins was walked intentionally to put runners at the corners, and Rylee Shockley came to the plate knowing a hit would likely win the game. The junior responded with a ground ball to deep short that went without a play, and Watson scampered home with the winning run.

“I was just thinking hit the ball, do something to put the ball in play so the run could come in somehow,” Shockley said. “Obviously, it wasn’t the greatest hit, but just putting the ball in play worked.”

Sussex Tech took a 1-0 lead in the second when Calloway doubled in Shockley, who had singled. But the middle innings belonged to the Golden Knights.

Taylor Evick walked to open the top of the fourth, and Morgan Burton laced a one-hop double off the fence in center field. Then McCabe cleared that 8-foot fence with a three-run homer to give Sussex Central a 3-1 lead.

Brooke Stoeckel opened the fifth with a windblown pop fly that fell between the shortstop and left fielder for a double. Evick was hit by a pitch, and the Golden Knights faked a bunt and attempted a double steal that turned out even better when a throw sailed into left field, allowing both runners to score.

Then Burton followed with a drive that took full advantage of a stiff tailwind. The solo shot cleared the fence in straightaway center and landed on a Jeep to push Sussex Central’s lead to 6-1.

“We had some things go on that could have disappointed us and really taken the air out for the entire game,” Marvel said. “But the girls have a lot of character, and they stayed at it, got themselves into position, and then came through when they had the opportunity.”

Sussex Tech left fielder Brooke Ward threw out a runner at the plate later in the fifth, and Taylor Collins made a diving catch on a foul pop in the seventh.

The Ravens, who were 10-8 and lost to Delaware Military Academy in the first round of the state tournament last season, got two hits each from Hovatter, Calloway and Lord. The Golden Knights, 8-10 last year, got two hits from Burton, McCabe and Mariah Rogers.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Dominic Durante (7) of fifth-ranked St. Georges slides safely into third as William Penn’s Matthew North is late with the tag last Thursday.

BASEBALL

1. Appoquinimink (2-0) 1

2. Caravel (1-0) 2

3. St. Mark’s (1-0) 3

4. Smyrna (2-0) 4

5. St. Georges (1-0) 5

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (0-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

3. Lake Forest (2-0) NR

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4

5. Delaware Military Academy (0-0) 5

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (0-1) 1

2. Cape Henlopen (1-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

4. Archmere (1-0) 4

5. Appoquinimink (1-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (2-0) 1

2. Polytech (1-0) 2

3. Tower Hill (0-0) 3

4. Caravel (2-0) 4

5. Archmere (1-0) NR

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (2-0) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (0-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4 NR

5. Concord (0-0) 5

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (1-0) 1

2. Archmere (1-0) 3

3. Caravel (0-1) 2

4. Wilmington Friends (1-0) 4

5. Lake Forest (1-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (0-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (0-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 3

4. Caesar Rodney (3-0) 4

5. Caravel (2-0) NR

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (0-0) 2

3. Tatnall (0-0) 3

4. Wilmington Friends (1-0) 4

5. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) NR

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (0-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 2

3. Archmere (0-0) 3

4. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 4

5. St. Andrew’s (0-1) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Sussex Tech catcher Shannon Lord went 2-for-3 with two doubles in the Ravens’ come-from-behind, 7-6 win over Sussex Central last Tuesday.

Athlete of the week. Sussex Tech’s Shannon Lord.

Athlete of the week. Sussex Tech’s Shannon Lord.

Sussex Tech catcher Shannon Lord went 2-for-3 with two doubles as the Ravens rallied to open their season with a 7-6 win over Sussex Central last Tuesday.

SHANNON LORD, junior, Sussex Tech softball

THE WEEK: Went 2 for 3 with two doubles as Sussex Tech opened its season with a 7-6 victory over Sussex Central last Tuesday.

THE RALLY: Lord’s second double came in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Ravens rallied from a 6-1 deficit and scored six runs to win. “It’s a really good start, because our coach always tells us you just need to go one pitch at a time, one inning at a time,” Lord said. “… Once a person gets a hit, it carries down the line and the positive energy will keep carrying down the line as well.”

THE CATCHER: Lord works behind the plate for the Ravens, a position she has played since age 5. “It’s a pretty tough position, because you’re always kind of having to be the quarterback of the team,” she said. “But my pitchers do very well, and it’s not too hard to catch my pitchers because they hit their spots.”

THE TOUGHNESS: “When you get the foul balls back to the head or the body, it’s pretty tough,” Lord said. “You’re trying to make sure you block so no runs can get in. But being a catcher is pretty fun.”

THE COACH SAYS: “The catcher is the one who touches the ball second-most, next to the pitcher,” Sussex Tech coach John Marvel said. “It’s ultra-important to have a great catcher. Someone who not only can throw runners out, but catches a good game, frames [the ball], blocks the ball. Shannon has all of those skills.”

THE EXPERIENCE: Lord was happy to win, but she knows Sussex Tech needs to get off to a better start. “I definitely think we can learn from this,” she said. “We know we can’t get ourselves in that big of a jam all the time, because sometimes we may not always come back.”

THE CLASSROOM: Lord’s favorite subject is History, taught by Diane LeCates. “Everything always repeats itself, so History really makes me have a better understanding of the world,” she said.

THE FUTURE: The Lewes resident hopes to continue her softball career in college, but her primary goal is to study nursing. “To try to put those two together is going to be tough, but I think I can work it out,” Lord said.

Send Athlete of the Week nominations to bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

St. Mark’s Brian Gilardi fields a ground ball during the Spartans’ March 23 win over Hodgson. No. 3-ranked St. Mark’s has three games scheduled during the school’s spring break this week.

You’re going to be practicing anyway. Why not play a few games?

Most Delaware school students are enjoying spring break this week, but there is no break for the athletes on many of the state’s top high school sports teams. The spring season only began last week, so this is no time to shut it down.

In fact, some coaches take advantage of the week off from school to schedule faraway opponents they may not normally play. Many of Delaware’s ranked teams will be in action this week in several sports, especially baseball.

No one will be busier than No. 1 Appoquinimink, which has three games scheduled. The Jaguars (2-0) will travel to No. 4 Smyrna at noon Tuesday, followed by a neutral-site game against Salesianum at 4 p.m. Thursday at Wilmington University’s Wilson Field. Then Cape Henlopen travels to Appo at noon Saturday for a rematch of last year’s DIAA state championship game, which the Jaguars won 10-2.

The second-ranked Caravel baseball team has a pair of home games against Pennsylvania opponents — Strath Haven at 7 p.m. Friday, then Roman Catholic at 7 Saturday.

No. 3 St. Mark’s also has a three-game week — at Caesar Rodney at 1 p.m. Wednesday, home against St. Elizabeth at 4 p.m. Thursday and home against Indian River at 1 p.m. Saturday.

No. 5 St. Georges will take on Salesianum on the road at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

In softball, No. 1 Caravel will open its season Saturday by hosting four games, two involving the Buccaneers. Caravel will take on Delmar at 10 a.m. and Immaculate Conception (N.J.) at 11:45. Then Sussex Tech will use Caravel’s diamond for its own doubleheader — against Arthur L. Johnson (N.J.) at 2 p.m. and William Penn Charter (Pa.) at 4.

Athlete of the Week: Shannon Lord

Second-ranked Caesar Rodney will be challenged in two home games. The Riders play host to St. Mark’s at 1 p.m. Wednesday, then take on Concord — which finished 15-4 last season — at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The top-ranked Salesianum lacrosse team opened the season with a 16-9 loss to the powerful Culver (Ind.) Academies last Wednesday in Baltimore, and the Sals will continue to put more miles on the bus than anyone.

This week, Sallies will meet Canisius of Buffalo, N.Y., at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Then the Sals will play at Nansemond Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, Va., at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Salesianum will wrap up the trip against Wando (S.C.) at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., on Friday.

Second-ranked Cape Henlopen will also travel out of state in boys lacrosse for a game at Bel Air (Md.) at 6:45 p.m. Thursday. Then the Vikings will be challenged at home by No. 4 Archmere at 4 p.m. Saturday.

No. 3 Caesar Rodney will hit the road twice — at Worcester Prep (Md.) at 4 p.m. Wednesday and at Wilmington Friends at noon Saturday.

In girls lacrosse, seven-time defending state champion Cape Henlopen will play host to Queen Anne’s County (Md.) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

No. 3 Tower Hill faces a tough season opener at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Charter of Wilmington, which was knocked out of the playoffs by the Hillers last season.

Archmere edged then-No. 5 St. Mark’s 5-4 last week to move into the rankings. But the Auks face a tough game at Wilmington Friends — which reached the state quarterfinals last season – at 4 p.m. Thursday.

In girls soccer, Division I top-ranked Padua (2-0) will play at Division II No. 4 Friends at 4 p.m. Tuesday, then travel to Cape Henlopen for a 6 p.m. Friday game.

Delaware high school sports rankings

Spartans look strong

Last Thursday was a huge day for Lake Forest’s spring sports programs.

The Spartans’ softball team trailed 2-0 going into the sixth inning at second-ranked Polytech, then erupted for 12 runs to swamp the defending state champs 12-2.

Brooke Glanden sparked the rally with an RBI triple, and Kayla Thompson (3-for-4, three RBIs) smacked a two-run double for Lake Forest, which vaulted into this week’s rankings at No. 3.

Lake Forest’s boys lacrosse team also scored an impressive victory, knocking off Milford 11-8.

The Spartans finished 8-6 last season, while the Buccaneers went 15-3 and dominated Lake Forest 17-4 and 16-4 in two meetings. But this time, the Spartans built a 5-2 halftime lead and held on behind five goals from Austin Aguilar, three from Dawaunta Parker and two from Ben Moore.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Concord’s pitcher Rachel Pritchard (14) in their game against Caesar Rodney.

Caesar Rodney’s Rosa’lynn Burton (5) with a throw to first base in their game against Concord.

Caesar Rodney’s Kendall Lewis (2) catches a ground ball in the 3rd inning against Concord.

Concord’s Eryn Bailey (8) dives for a ground ball in the second inning against Caesar Rodney.

Caesar Rodney’s pitcher Alyssa Ball (9) throws out a Concord runner at first base in the first inning.

Caesar Rodney’s Logan Rash (22) watches the ball thrown by Concord’s Rachel Pritchard (14).

Caesar Rodney’s Rosa’lynn Burton (5) with a throw to first base in their game against Concord.

Caesar Rodney’s pitcher Alyssa Ball (9) prepares to pitch in their game against Concord.

Caesar Rodney’s Alexis Howerin (12) runs the bases after hitting for a triple in their game against Concord.

Concord’s Sarah Raab (7) watches as the ball bounces out of bounce in their game against Caesar Rodney.

Caesar Rodney’s Courtney Malin (15) with a hit in the 5th inning to advance a runner home in their game against Concord.

Caesar Rodney’s Kendall Lewis (2) tags out Concord’s Eryn Bailey (8) at second base.

Caesar Rodney’s Courtney Malin (15) tags Concord’s Makaila Gordy (5) out at second base.

Caesar Rodney’s pitcher Alyssa Ball (9) throws a pitch in their game against Concord.

CAMDEN – The Caesar Rodney softball team was playing its second game in just over 24 hours Thursday, but after defeating Concord 5-0 to improve their record to 4-0 on the young season, there was no sense that the Riders were overly tired — just happy with the results.

“We’ve had a couple of girls sick this week so that forced us to make some changes in our lineup,” Riders head coach Skye Boris said. “We knew it was going to be tough, but I was impressed with how we played today.”

“We work hard a lot in practice on keeping our energy up,” added junior pitcher Alyssa Ball, who pitched a complete game shutout, surrendering just three hits while forcing the Raiders into 11 ground-ball outs. “Our focus is always on the game.”

Ball also improved to 4-0 on the season by working in tandem with a solid defense behind her that seemed to smother any ball the Raiders (1-1) got on the ground.

“Alyssa is a very, very intelligent softball player and she holds her position on the mound really well,” Boris said. “She’s not afraid to get the ground-ball outs, get fly-outs and make her defense work for her.”

“I know I’m not really a strikeout pitcher,” Ball explains, “so I just try to rely a lot on my defense and they always have my back.”

Offensively, CR methodically pushed five runs across on 11 hits, including RBI singles by freshman Courtney Malin and senior Kendall Lewis.

“We hit in practice with a purpose,” Boris says. “It’s how we’re able to manufacture runs and play small ball.”

“That’s what the top of our lineup does,” said Malin, who collected two singles on the day. “We get on base and when the defense makes errors, that’s when we score runs.”

After defeating St. Mark’s 11-5 Wednesday afternoon, the Riders are now free to enjoy the rest of their spring break, but according to Malin and Ball, they don’t mind being on the softball field at all.

“We’re a really tight group of girls so we can rely on each other no matter and we know that we can win games,” Malin said.

“When we’re on the field, we’re thinking about only softball,” Ball added. “After the game, then we can go back to sleep or hang out together.”

Rachel Pritchard pitched six innings for Concord, striking out 12 batters. Eryn Bailey, Shelly Johnson and Alyson Fox each collected singles for the Raiders.

Charter of Wilmington’s Michelle Shulkov (1) works around Tower Hill’s Jade Olurin during the Force’s 10-9 win on March 29. Charter moved into this week’s girls lacrosse rankings at No. 3.

BASEBALL

1. Caravel (2-0) Prev. 2

2. St. Mark’s (4-0) 3

3. Salesianum (3-0) NR

4. Smyrna (3-0) 4

5. Appoquinimink (2-2) 1

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (2-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (4-0) 2

3. Lake Forest (3-0) 3

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4

5. Delaware Military Academy (0-0) 5

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (3-1) 1

2. Archmere (2-0) 4

3. Cape Henlopen (1-2) 2

4. Wilmington Friends (2-0) NR

5. Appoquinimink (1-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (3-0) 1

2. Polytech (1-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (3-0) NR

4. Caravel (2-0) 4

5. Archmere (2-0) 5

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (4-0) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (0-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4

5. Concord (0-0) 5

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (1-0) 1

2. Archmere (1-0) 2

3. Caravel (0-1) 3

4. Wilmington Friends (1-1) 4

5. Lake Forest (1-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (0-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (2-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 3

4. Caesar Rodney (3-0) 4

5. Caravel (2-0) 5

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (2-0) 2

3. Tatnall (1-1) 3

4. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 4

5. St. Andrew’s (2-1) NR

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (2-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 2

3. Archmere (0-0) 3

4. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 4

5. St. Andrew’s (1-1) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Lake Forest’s Kaitlyn Stahre (4) catches a ground ball in their win over Red Lion.

Lake Forest’s Faith Garey (2) tags out Red Lion’s Kaylee Hazewski (22) at third base.

Red Lion’s Gabriella Lano (14) attempts to tag out Lake Forest’s Mya Maddox (1) at third base.

Lake Forest’s Kayla Thompson (18) dives back to first base in their game against Red Lion.

Lake Forest’s Grace Aguilar (5) make a catch in the outfield in their game against Red Lion.

Red Lion’s Taylor Beres (25) catches a ground ball hit in their game against Lake Forest.

Red Lion’s catcher Madelyn Beres (18) tags out Lake Forest’s Mya Maddox (1) out at home plate.

Red Lion’s Colleen McAllister (19) bunts the ball in their game against Lake Forest on Friday.

Lake Forest’s Grace Aguilar (5) slides past Red Lion’s catcher Madelyn Beres (18) into home plate and scoring in their game on Friday.

Lake Forest’s Kerrigan Simpson (15) is congratulated by her coach after hitting a home run in their win over Red Lion.

Red Lion’s Taylor Beres (25) makes a throw to home plate in their game against Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s Grace Aguilar (5) makes contact with the ball in their game against Red Lion.

Red Lion’s Gabriella Lano (14) make a throw to first base in their game against Lake Forest.

Red Lion’s Noelle Holiday (33) catches a ground ball and makes a out in their game against Lake Forest.

Red Lion’s outfielder Julia Thuer (4) makes a catch in the outfield in their game against Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s Brittany Baker (3) is tagged out at home plate by Red Lion’s Madelyn Beres (18).

Lake Forest’s Kerrigan Simpson (15) is congratulated by her team at home plate after hitting a home run in their win over Red Lion.

Lake Forest’s pitcher Kerrigan Simpson (15) sends a pitch in their game against Red Lion.

FELTON– Four home runs rode a healthy tailwind out of Lake Forest’s softball field on Friday, and Kerrigan Simpson was involved in all of them.

The Lake Forest pitcher allowed two of the long balls, but more than made up for that by bashing two of her own as the Spartans survived their closest challenge of the season and held off Red Lion Christian 7-5.

“She’s a big hitter,” Lake Forest coach Ashlie Tatman said of Simpson. “She brings a lot of things, both offense and defense.”

Third-ranked Lake Forest (5-0) had won its first four games by 10 runs or more. But the Lions (2-1) put a scare into the Spartans, rallying from a 6-1 deficit with four runs in the sixth.

“We needed this as a little booster, to know that a team can come in here and beat us any given day,” said Spartans center fielder Mya Maddox, who went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. “Them getting a little close to us definitely pushed us to want to do better.”

Red Lion Christian survived a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the first, but the Lions couldn’t hold Lake Forest back in the second. Maddox delivered a two-run single and later scored on a passed ball for a 3-0 lead.

The Lions’ Kaylee Hazewski opened the fourth with a bunt single, scooted all the way to third on Colleen McAllister’s sacrifice bunt and came home on Noelle Holiday’s groundout to cut the lead to 3-1.

Then Kaitlyn Stahre and Brooke Glanden singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and Simpson lofted a three-run bomb over the fence in left-center for a 6-1 cushion.

“It was a nice pitch,” Simpson said. “It had a little bit of speed on it, so I just saw it and hit it well. I hit it just right.”

Red Lion Christian got back in it by hitting a couple just right in the sixth. Hazewski led off with a triple, but was close to being stuck at third until Abby Smith unleashed a two-out, two-run drive to center. Then Taylor Beres singled, and Julia Thuer sent another towering shot to center to pull the Lions within 6-5.

The Spartans got a groundout to end the inning, and Simpson led off the bottom of the sixth with another dinger to dead center to make it 7-5.

“It was another good pitch,” Simpson said. “I was seeing the ball really well today. I definitely think it pumped the team up.”

The junior right-hander closed it out with a 1-2-3 seventh, on two groundouts and a liner to third. Simpson only got one strikeout in seven innings, but the Spartans handled 12 grounders and eight fly balls without an error.

“I have great defense behind me,” Simpson said. “I love my team so much. I know they have my back all the time. They always cheer me on, they’re always pumping me up. That’s what keeps me together.”

Both teams flashed some leather. Glanden, Lake Forest’s third baseman, made a diving catch to end the Red Lion fifth with runners at second and third. Holiday, the Lions’ first baseman, tagged out a runner on a ground ball and threw home to catcher Madelyn Beres for a rare 3-2 double play in the fourth. And McAllister made a sliding catch in left field in the sixth.

“This is the closest game that we’ve had, and I was impressed with the girls and the way they held their intensity and held their focus,” Tatman said.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Lake Forest Kerrigan Simpson fires a pitch against Red Lion Christian on Friday. The Spartans moved up to No. 2 in the state with a 7-5 victory.

BASEBALL

1. Salesianum (4-0) 3

2. St. Mark’s (6-0) 2

3. Caravel (3-1) 1

4. Smyrna (5-0) 4

5. Appoquinimink (4-2) 5

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (2-1) 1

2. Lake Forest (5-0) 3

3. Caesar Rodney (5-1) 2

4. Appoquinimink (3-0) 4

5. Delaware Military Academy (1-0) 5

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (5-1) 1

2. Archmere (3-1) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (3-2) 3

4. Wilmington Friends (2-1) 4

5. Appoquinimink (3-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (5-0) 1

2. Polytech (4-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (4-0) 3

4. Ursuline (4-0) NR

5. Caravel (3-1) 4

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (6-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (3-1) 3

3. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 2

4. Appoquinimink (3-0) 4

5. Middletown (3-0) NR

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (3-0) 1

2. Archmere (1-0-1) 2

3. Caravel (1-1) 3

4. Delaware Military Academy (3-0-1) NR

5. Lake Forest (3-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (0-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (3-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (5-0) 4

4. Caravel (5-0) 5

5. Appoquinimink (3-0) NR

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (6-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (3-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (3-0) 4

4. St. Andrew’s (3-2) 5

5. Tatnall (2-2) 3

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (3-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (5-0) 2

3. Archmere (1-0) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (2-2) 5

5. Wilmington Friends (2-2) NR

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Marcy Aitken looks to her son Mark as she’s applauded at a ceremony honoring Aitken for her contributions to Archmere on Thursday evening.

Archmere has built one of the most competitive girls athletic programs among Delaware high schools. The Auks have racked up 11 state championships over the years, and are currently ranked No. 2 in the state in Division II soccer and No. 3 in tennis.

All of that had to start somewhere, and it started with Marcy Aitken. She was hired to coach basketball, cheerleading and softball in 1975-76, the first year Archmere accepted girls.

Aitken went on to coach for eight years and teach at Archmere for 37 years, retiring in 2012. Her contributions to the school and trailblazing role in girls athletics were formally recognized last Thursday, as the Auks named one of their athletic facilities the Marcy Aitken Gymnasium.

“I just thought, ‘This is natural,’” Aitken said. “We’re going to change from a boys school to a boys and girls school. It was just very natural. It all fell into place.”

Aitken helped it fall into place, but not without some hesitation. She had an athletic background after playing basketball at Immaculata University, but when she was recommended to start Archmere’s girls sports program she was a mother to eight kids. Her youngest, Margaret, was about to enter first grade.

“The principal turned to my husband, Joe, and said, ‘Can she do this?’” Aitken said. “And Joe said, ‘Yes, she can.’ When we got out in the hallway, I said to Joe, ‘I’m going to do this for three years.’ I was at Archmere for 37 years. That’s how much I love the school.”

Only 50 girls enrolled during the first year, and 45 of them were freshmen and sophomores. Now, 55 percent of Archmere’s student body is female. But then, Aitken was coaching many girls who had never played any sport before.

“The majority of the girls were not real athletic,” she said. “We didn’t win many games, but they didn’t really care. They played their hearts out.”

MaryAnn O’Brien Slowik was among the first class of Archmere girls, enrolling in December of her freshman year. She played volleyball, basketball and softball for three years.

“It was before Title IX, so we had to fight for everything,” O’Brien Slowik said. “We had to wear the same uniforms for all three seasons. Even as a senior, I don’t remember us getting new uniforms yet.”

Athlete of the Week: Jamie Trabaudo

But she developed a special bond with Aitken.

“She was more than a coach,” O’Brien Slowik said. “She was a mentor, she was a mom. She was a tough coach, but fair. She was funny, and she was a great friend. She has been a friend for the last 40 years. Whenever I see her, it’s just like we’re back on the basketball court or the softball field.”

Aitken eventually stopped coaching and became Archmere’s alcohol and drug counselor. She was at Archmere during Margaret’s entire time at the school, juggling her work duties while raising her children and spending time with Joe, an engineer for Hercules.

“I have two kids, and honestly I do not know how they did it,” Margaret Aitken said. “I can barely keep track of two, much less eight, and then working full time and starting a girls program. It’s pretty incredible. We’re very proud.”

Now, Marcy is amazed by Archmere’s girls athletic teams. The Auks compete in 11 sports, and 1,838 girls graduated during her tenure at the school.

“The girls sports there today are wonderful,” she said. “Whether it was because we laid the groundwork, I don’t know. They eventually became athletes in their own right.

“I just think I’m lucky to be a part of all of that. If we were part of that and laid the foundation, then we’re blessed.”

Delaware high school sports rankings

Rounding it up

— Dover quarterback Triston Harris has decided to continue his football career at Towson.

— Three more Salesianum football players have decided to play at the next level. WR-DB Griffin Salvo will compete at Ursinus, kicker Pearce Bartlett is headed for Catholic University and WR Jeremy Ryan plans to walk on at Delaware.

— A.I. du Pont senior Elizabeth Shields reached 200 career goals in a 15-8 girls lacrosse victory over Hodgson last Tuesday. Shields found the net eight times in the win.

— Four-time defending state champion Padua is 15th nationally in the latest USA Today/NSCAA Super 25 girls soccer rankings. The Pandas (6-0), ranked first in Division I in Delaware, will meet No. 4 Appoquinimink at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Independence School.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Lake Forest’s catcher Catera Kennedy (13) misses a throw to home base allowing Caravel to score in the 1st inning.

Caravel’s Amanda Stull (28) makes contact with the ball in their win over Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s Kayla Thompson (18) tags out Caravel’s Amanda Ladzinski (31) at first base in the 1st inning.

Lake Forest’s Grace Aguilar (5) tags out Caravel’s Samantha Esper (1) at second base in the 3rd inning.

Lake Forest’s Grace Aguilar (5) catches a ground ball in the 3rd inning in their home game against Caravel.

Lake Forest’s Brittany Baker (3) with a throw to first base in their home game against Caravel.

Lake Forest’s Brooke Glanden (7) catches a fly ball in the 2nd inning in their home game against Caravel.

Caravel’s Elizabeth Smith (19) with a throw to first base in their win over Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s Kayla Thompson (18) win a throw to first base in their home game against Caravel.

Lake Forest’s Faith Garey (2) keeps her eyes on the ball while at bat in their home game against Caravel.

Caravel’s pitcher Holly Brooks (6) sends a pitch in their win over Lake Forest.

Caravel’s Samantha Esper (1) with a throw to first base in their win over Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s Grace Aguilar (5) catches a ground ball in the 3rd inning in their home game against Caravel.

Caravel’s Emily Proffitt (14) mishandles a ground ball in their away game against Lake Forest.

Caravel’s Elizabeth Smith (19) catches a ground ball in the 3rd inning in their win over Lake Forest.

Caravel’s Samantha Esper (1) with a leaping catch in their win over Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s pitcher Kaitlyn Stahre (4) grabs a ground ball in their home game against Caravel.

Caravel’s Emily Proffitt (14) with a throw to first base in their win over Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s Brittany Baker (3) makes a out at second base in their home game against Caravel.

Lake Forest’s Grace Aguilar (5) makes contact with the ball in their home game against Caravel.

Lake Forest’s pitcher Kaitlyn Stahre (4) grabs a ground ball in their home game against Caravel.

Caravel’s Samantha Esper (1) mishandles a infield hit in their win over Lake Forest.

Caravel’s Samantha Esper (1) misses a ground ball in their win over Lake Forest.

Lake Forest’s pitcher Kaitlyn Stahre (4) runs after the ball after the ball bounced off her glove in their home game against Caravel.

Caravel’s Emily Proffitt (14) missing a infield catch in their win over Lake Forest.

Caravel’s Elizabeth Smith (19) with a infield play in their win over Lake Forest.

Caravel’s Elizabeth Smith (19) makes the final out in their win over Lake Forest.

Caravel’s Elizabeth Smith (19) misses a ground ball allowing a run to be scored by Lake Forest.

FELTON– Taking a one-hour bus ride to face the No. 2 in the state is a pretty big deal.

The Caravel softball team made it seem like no big deal on Saturday. Of course, it helps when you’re the No. 1 team in the state.

The top-ranked Buccaneers blitzed out to a 10-run lead through three innings, then held off a late comeback by the Spartans for a 10-6 victory.

“We knew they were going to be a tough team. They would never give up,” Caravel pitcher Holly Brooks said. “So we pounded on them the first couple of innings. I’m really proud of my team for that. We really got on top of them.”

The Buccaneers rapped out six hits and took full advantage of four Lake Forest errors and six walks in those decisive first three innings.

“We knew Caravel was going to be hard. It was going to be one of our most difficult teams this year,” Spartans coach Ashlie Tatman said. “We made a lot of bad mental and defensive mistakes in the beginning that literally cost us the game.”

Samantha Esper led off the game with a walk, then circled the bases on two errors for the first run. Another walk set the table, and Grace Walker delivered an RBI single. Then Emily Proffitt ripped a two-run double down the third-base line for a 4-0 lead.

“We knew this was going to be one of our better games, so we had to jump on them,” said Esper, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI and scored two runs. “I think we were all doing our best to cheer on everyone, and we tried to start it off the best we could.”

Esper went all the way to third on an error with one out in the second, and Alexa Proffitt followed with an RBI groundout to make it 5-0. Then Caravel (4-1) really got it rolling in the third.

Emily Holmes sandwiched a single between two walks to load the bases. Then Amanda Ladzinski and Amanda Stull walked to force in two runs, Esper drove in a run with a single, Alexa Proffitt brought one home on a fielder’s choice and Brooks cracked a single up the middle for a 10-0 cushion.

“I’ve been working really hard on hitting the ball where it’s pitched,” said Brooks, who finished 3 for 3 with singles to left, center and right. “I guess I did that today. I really try to stay patient in the batter’s box and try to get my pitch.”

The Spartans (6-2) were one out away from seeing the game end due to the 10-run rule in the fifth. But Brooke Glanden doubled and Kerrigan Simpson plated her with a single to keep it going.

Lake Forest got another run in the sixth on Grace Aguilar’s RBI groundout, then showed a lot of fight with four hits and four runs in the seventh.

“I’m proud of the way they picked it up in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings,” Tatman said. “They came out like they should have in the first inning. So I’m proud that they stayed in it.”

Faith Garey had an RBI single, Catera Kennedy drove in two with a single and Aguilar added an RBI single before the Buccaneers finally got the last out on a soft liner to third.

“We stayed in the game,” Brooks said. “Things happened and they scored some, but I’m proud of us for staying up and finishing the game.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Caesar Rodney’s Lynsy Gruwell (left) celebrates with Aleya Cummings after the first of Cummings’ two goals on Friday night. No. 2 CR edged No. 3 Charter of Wilmington 2-1 in a Division I matchup.

BASEBALL

1. Salesianum (5-0) 1

2. St. Mark’s (8-1) 2

3. Appoquinimink (6-2) 5

4. Cape Henlopen (5-1) NR

5. Smyrna (5-1) 4

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (6-1) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (6-1) 3

3. Conrad (7-0) NR

4. Sussex Tech (5-1) NR

5. Appoquinimink (5-1) 4

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (6-1) 1

2. Archmere (6-1) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (5-2) 3

4. Tower Hill (4-2) NR

5. Appoquinimink (4-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (7-1) 1

2. Polytech (6-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (6-0) 3

4. Ursuline (4-1) 4

5. Caravel (5-1) 5

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (8-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (5-1) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (2-1) 3

4. Appoquinimink (4-1) 4

5. Middletown (5-0) 5

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (5-0) 1

2. Archmere (3-0-1) 2

3. Caravel (4-1) 3

4. Delaware Military Academy (4-1-1) 4

5. Lake Forest (5-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (2-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (5-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (7-0) 3

4. Caravel (6-1) 4

5. Appoquinimink (5-0) 5

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (8-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (4-1) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (6-0) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (4-2) 4

5. Tatnall (3-3) 5

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (5-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (8-0) 2

3. Archmere (4-0) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (4-2) 4

5. Wilmington Friends (4-2) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Cape’s Riley Shields was on the winning end of Tuesday’s 3-2 decision as the Vikings defeated No. 2-ranked CR.

CAMDEN – With Riley Shields and Alyssa Ball on the mound for Cape Henlopen and second-ranked Caesar Rodney respectively on Tuesday, runs were at a premium.

So when a scoring chance presented itself, someone had to deliver.

The Vikings took advantage of their first opportunity in the third inning when they scored a pair of runs on Sydney Otlowski’s single that take the lead, and they never trailed from that point to earn a 3-2 victory over the host Riders on Tuesday afternoon in Henlopen North softball action.

“It was a situation where we scraped and manufactured some runs. (Sydney) Otlowski came through just when we needed,” Vikings head coach Jeff Evans said. “We knew that both pitchers were going to be crafty and tough today, and they were. Both defenses were pretty solid. Runs were hard come by, and you really had to manufacture them.”

St. Mark’s walks past Sals in baseball showdown

Reagan Jackson and Kira Vitella started the frame by reaching via a single and an error respectively, and after Samantha Frederick was inserted to run for Jackson, Jessica Evans moved them up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Otlowski followed with a hard-hit ground ball up that middle for a single, driving in Frederick and Vitella to give Cape Henlopen a 2-0 lead.

“I just tried to calm down, and I’ve really been focusing on hitting ground balls because they’re harder to field and throw out,” Otlowski said. “I definitely didn’t want to pop out and really wanted to move my runners around because that was my job.”

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Caesar Rodney scored.

CR’s Rosa’Lynn Burton singled to lead off the frame and moved to second on an error, and touched home on Kendall Lewis’ single to cut the lead in half.

Cape Henlopen (5-2) added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Jordyn Virden scored on a Kaeli O’Neill-Willey single, and that run proved to be important as the Riders scored in the bottom half of the inning on an Alexxys Harris single.

All-State Boys Track: Sals’ Hally finds his passion

Caesar Rodney threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning when it put two runners on with two outs, but Lauren Polinsky’s hard line drive was snagged by Hannah Jones to end the game.

The Riders (6-3) were doomed by their inability to get the key hit as evidence by leaving seven runners on base, including three in scoring position.

“We couldn’t get that one big run today. We were swinging at bad pitches, watching good ones go by. We couldn’t sacrifice when we needed to,” Riders head coach Skye Boris said. “We’re definitely going to work on the little things, making sure we get the little things done and not watching good pitches go by and swing at the good ones.”