Sports

Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com Apr. 1, 2022 Page 61

PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN CITY LIFE-SAVING STATION MUSEUM The Ocean City High School Vikings basketball team won the state Class C championships in College Park, Maryland in 1952, becoming the only squad to win the tournament in the institution’s history.

State championship, 70 years later

By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (April 1, 2022) Ocean City High School, which no longer exists, won its one and only state basketball championship title 70 years ago this month.

The day was March 22, 1952, and the Ocean City Vikings went head-tohead against New Windsor High School’s basketball team in College Park for the Class C title, ousting them 70-55.

The Salisbury Daily Times wrote on March 24, 1952, that the only time Ocean City was ever pressed during the game was at the beginning, when the seashore boys were behind 6-4. But that was the only time they trailed.

The “seashore quintet,” as referred to in the article, led the first quarter 20-16, 45-26 at halftime, and 62-43 after the third quarter.

Top scorers from Ocean City were Ben Lewis and Bunkey Bradford who sunk 17 points each. Burt Raughley also found 15 buckets and George Hurley got 14.

Ray Shockley, 85, who today is an attorney in Ocean City, played forward for the Vikings as a sophomore, and was 15 when the two teams faced off.

“It was an exciting time for us,” he said. “Going to college park was a big deal for us. Even going to Salisbury was a big trip for us back in the 50s.”

The road to College Park included games against the three schools in Worcester County at the time — Berlin, Snow Hill, and Pocomoke City — as well as bouts in Mardela Springs, Salisbury, and Delaware.

Once they got to College Park, the team played Barton High of Allegany County and nearly lost a 65-27 lead after four regular starters fouled out. Barton closed the gap to 10 points, and the final score was 70-60.

Playing in College Park was much different and lacked the hometown feel. The gym was nearly double the size of the gym that was at the now city hall building on Third Street, and the backboards were glass instead of wooden.

Ocean City’s coach, Dick DeHart, was new to the school and came from West Virginia.

Shockley said DeHart introduced the players to what’s known as the fast break.

“It was a different type of game than the other schools were used to,” Shockley said. “You bring the ball up hurriedly rather than just coming up and setting up. It was a lot of running.”

Along with getting the ball up the court quickly, DeHart had the players practice layups, telling the players if they were fast enough, they were going to shoot a layup.

While today three-point shots are key, they did not exist in 1952.

The fast breaks and layups paid off.

The Daily Times described Ocean City’s strategy as a “speedy all-out attack,” forcing the New Windsor Players off the court.

“Five Ocean City players were down the floor usually before the opposition had an opportunity to set up a defense,” the paper wrote in its rundown of the championship game.

About a month after the Vikings returned home, Ocean City held a little celebration for the team and gave each of the players a watch that was engraved on the back – Shockley said See BASKETBALL Page 62

PHOTO COURTESY HTTPS://WWW.DRIVECHIPANDPUTT.COM Worcester Preparatory School freshman Michael DePalma will compete in the Boys’ 1415 Division of the Drive, Chip and Putt nationals this Sunday in Augusta, Georgia.

DePalma in Drive, Chip and Putt national finals

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) Worcester Preparatory School freshman Michael DePalma will compete in the Boys’ 14-15 Division of the Drive, Chip and Putt nationals this Sunday in Augusta, Georgia.

He qualified for the event for placing first at Oak Hill Regionals on Sept. 19 in Rochester, New York. During the competition, each golfer was given three attempts, and DePalma scored the highest in his division with 68 in Drive, 40 in Chip and 45 in Putt, for a total score of 153.

“I thought I played extremely well and I kept myself composed throughout the event even when I knew I was in the lead,” he said earlier this week.

This is his first time participating in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition.

“I am both nervous and excited to compete in Augusta this weekend. I will be competing against nine other kids in the nationals,” he said. “My goal for the nationals is to finish fifth place or better.”

The national finals takes place at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel. It is scheduled to be televised from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. There are 80 golfers total participating in the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals.

Continued from Page 61

“Michael is an outstanding competitor. He is very mature and is an accomplished golfer,” said Worcester Prep Varsity Golf Coach Don McMullen. “He is driven to be the best through his hours of practice on the driving range and many rounds of golf played.”

DePalma started playing golfing at the age of 9 with his dad and grandfather and quickly realized his passion for the sport. A year later he began playing competitively.

DePalma joined the middle school golf team in seventh grade. He had a successful first season playing for the Worcester Prep varsity squad this past fall as a ninth grader.

“His first year golfing as a freshman on the Worcester Preparatory School golf team, he was named to the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) All-Conference Golf Team. He was one of the leaders in this past year’s undefeated season,” McMullen said. “The golf coaches, golf team and Worcester Preparatory School wish him the best during this Sunday’s competition to determine the winner of the 14-15 National Drive, Chip and Putt Championship.”

For more information about the competition, visit www.drivechipandputt.com/.

A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and the PGA of America, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf.

Drive, Chip and Putt provides aspiring junior male and female golfers ages 7-15, an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying events in each age/gender category earn a place in the national finals.

Decatur girls’ lax team scores 16-4 win over Wor. Prep

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) The Stephen Decatur and Worcester Prep girls’ lacrosse teams went head-to-head in their annual crosstown rivalry match on Wednesday, with the Lady Seahawks coming out on top on their home field, 16-4.

“Overall, I thought we connected well as a team,” Decatur Coach Lindsay Owens said after the victory. “Our defense came together and made big stops. We connected in offensive transitions. Our offense was patient and put some great sets together allowing us to finish in the back of the net.”

Because of covid, this was the first time the two teams have competed against each other since 2019.

Decatur led 9-2 at halftime. Senior captain Darby Moore was the Seahawks’ top producer with six goals.

Junior Audrey Mumford chipped in with three goals and two assists. Junior Alina Bernal-Clark and sophomore Sadie Kauffman (one assist) contributed with two goals each.

Juniors Shelby Rosemond (two assists) and Kayla Brady and senior Saige Figgs had one goal apiece.

Senior Ryleigh Cunnane recored five saves in the first half. Junior Jessica Beck stopped four Worcester shots in the second half.

Senior captain Myranda Beebe scored two goals for Worcester. Senior Brooke Emeigh and freshman Emma Zajdel tallied one goal each. Freshman Nazli Unal had two assists.

Sophomore captain Caitlin Williams recorded 10 saves in goal for Worcester, and freshman Lillian Doran had one (her first career save).

“We’ve played an incredibly tough schedule to start. I’m proud of our young team today,” Prep Coach Chris Williams said.

Game entry tickets sales, T-shirt and bake sale as well as concession profits will go directly to the Draheim family to support Lakelyn, who was diagnosed with DIPG stage 4 inoperable brain cancer in January at just 4 years old.

“Our goal for this game was to play for Lakelyn and we did just that. I was extremely proud of all the hard work the girls put into this game on and off the field,” Owens said. “It says so much about their unbelievable character.”

Players and spectators wore pink to support Lakelyn, which is her favorite color. More than $1,000 was raised for the Berlin family.

To learn more about Lakelyn’s story, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/lakelyndraheim.

Decatur’s next game is today, Friday in Easton at 4:30 p.m. against the Saints Peter and Paul Sabres. Worcester is slated to host the Gunston School Herons at 4 p.m. today.

Basketball team’s fast break led to state tourney win

Continued from Page 61 he still has his.

Basketball and the other two sports the high school fielded teams for — baseball and soccer — were the only acts in town. When games took place, they attracted adults from all over the town that had a population of 800-900 residents.

Whenever the teams played their biggest rivals in Berlin, Shockley said his school was represented well.

A picture of the winning team is up at City Hall and at the Ocean City Lifesaving Museum.

Shockley looked at the picture and said there were seven seniors on the team — probably every senior in the school — and it looked like three or four juniors and a couple of sophomores.

“I look, and a lot of them have passed on,” he said. “I don’t know any of these guys living that are in the area. George Hurley was a native, but he’s passed on. Bill Brown passed on. Lionel passed on. These are the seniors. There are a couple I don’t know that I haven’t heard from since we left school.”

Shockley was part of the last graduating class from Ocean City High School in May 1954. In September 1954, Stephen Decatur High School opened, combining the students from Ocean City with those in Berlin.

Although Stephen Decatur won a basketball state championship in the 1970s, Shockley’s team in 1952 was the only one to win a championship for Ocean City High.

“It was great for the little town of Ocean City,” he said. “I mean, we were Class C, but still, we were state champs.”

Decatur baseball squad gets wins over Arcadia, JMB

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) It was a cold week to be out on the baseball field – which included some snow flurries and strong winds – but the Stephen Decatur baseball team prevailed over its opponents.

The Seahawks opened the week with Arcadia on Monday in Berlin. During warmups, Coach Rich Ferro said at one point you could barely see the players in the outfield while standing near first base because of snow flurries.

The players didn’t let the unfavorable conditions hold them back, as they generated six runs in the first inning and 20 in the second.

Decatur scored 26 runs on 19 hits. The game ended in the third inning.

Twelve Seahawks had a least one hit. Senior Logan Tapman led the team with three hits, two RBIs and four runs scored. Sophomore Brycen Coleman chipped in with one hit (inside-the-park home run), four RBIs and two runs scored.

Senior Shawn Rosemond and sophomore Lukas Loring both had two hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Sophomore Caden Shockley contributed with two hits, three RBIs and one run scored. Junior Alex Navarro tallied two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored.

Sophomore Dalton Blades struck out six and walked one in two innings. Junior Stephen Wade struck out two and gave up a hit in one inning.

“It was so cold. The conditions were not great, but they still had energy, and we had multiple guys with hits,” Ferro said.

Decatur hosted the James M. Bennett Clippers on Wednesday.

The visiting Clippers scored one run in the second inning. The Seahawks pulled ahead, putting two on the board in the third. They added three more in the fourth, increasing their advantage to 5-1.

Decatur tacked on a sixth run in the fifth.

Bennett scored two in the sixth and one in the top of the seventh, but Decatur held off its opponent to win, 6-4.

“It was a competitive game and they responded pretty well. Their pitcher was very good,” Ferro said. “We struck out six times, but I was happy with the fact we put the ball in play. The guys at the plate did their jobs. When you put the ball in play, anything can happen. We had a couple hiccups on defense, but it’s baseball and that’s how it goes sometimes.”

Decatur had three hits in the game (Tapman, Rosemond and junior Owen Knerr).

Junior Ryan McLaughlin started on the mound for Decatur. He struck out nine, walked three, gave up a hit and one run in five innings.

Tapman threw two innings. He struck out two, walked two, and allowed three hits and three runs.

“Both of our pitchers did a great job,” Ferro said.

Decatur is on the road next week. The Seahawks will play the Parkside Rams on Monday at 4 p.m. in Salisbury, the Kent Island Buccaneers on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Stevensville, then the Wicomico Indians on Thursday at 4 p.m. in Salisbury.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY (Left) Junior Ryan McLaughlin started on the mound for Decatur on Wednesday against James M. Bennett. He struck out nine, walked three, gave up a hit and one run in five innings. (Right) Sophomore Caden Shockley reaches for third base. Decatur won, 6-4.

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PAGE 64 Decatur softball team scores 15 runs on 13 hits

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) The Stephen Decatur softball team shut out the James M. Bennett Clippers, 15-0, in five innings on Wednesday in Berlin.

“It’s been eight days since our first [and last] game. We’ve been off for eight days with snow in almost April [on Monday], a lot of really cold, windy days out here, which is typical here,” said Decatur Coach Scott Kurtz. “We recognize the last thing to come around is the hitting, so we really put an emphasis over the last seven days to prepare for today. I trust our defense, I trust our pitching, but I want the girl to hit to their best capabilities so we really emphasized it.”

The Lady Seahawks put eight runs on the board in the first inning. They tacked on five in the second and one in both the third and fourth innings. Decatur scored 15 runs on 13 hits.

“We had a long talk about it. You got to swing for power when the count calls for it and you got to just put the ball in play whenever you’re a little behind and try to generate something - move your teammate, do those little things, and I saw a lot of that today,” Kurtz said. “I saw girls swinging for power at the right time and just trying to put the ball in play when it also mattered. That’s how you put 15 up on the board in four innings of hitting – lot of solid line drives, lot of hard ground balls, that’s what you really want.”

Freshman Ryleigh Smith hit back-toback home runs. She finished the game with three hits, six RBIs and three runs scored.

Seniors Alexa Eisemann and Skylar Griffin had two hits and three RBIs each. Junior Sarah Smith chipped in with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Sophomore Leah Simpson, freshman Madison McGinnis and senior Chloe Candeloro each had a hit.

Griffin struck out four, walked one and gave up a hit in three innings. McGinnis struck out four in two innings.

“Our girls showed up today and I’m extremely happy for them. Some girls that hadn’t played in the first game or didn’t get a chance to hit in the first game got some opportunities,” Kurtz said. “We’re going to go back and look at the film and see what worked and what didn’t work and just keep plugging along … We just got to take it one game at a time, keep working and improving all aspects of the game.”

Decatur will host the Wicomico Indians, today, Friday at 4 p.m. The Seahawks will play the Parkside Rams on Monday at 4 p.m. in Salisbury, then the Kent Island Buccaneers on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Stevensville.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY (Left) Stephen Decatur freshman Madison McGinnis struck out four in two innings during Wednesday’s game against James M. Bennett in Berlin. (Right) Coach Scott Kurtz watches senior Lexi Mumford make contact with the ball. Decatur won, 15-0.

Decatur girls’ outdoor T&F squad wins meet at home

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) The Stephen Decatur girls’ outdoor track and field team won Tuesday’s six-school meet, and the boys’ squad came in fourth place on their home turf in Berlin.

“I was very happy about our girls’ win. They work hard and having all of our athletes compete (some of them in B relays) helped our score. We have several veteran girls who help to score a lot of points as well,” said Decatur Coach Brenda Hommel. “Our boys’ team is coming along. Still a very young team, but they are working hard. We were happy to see some improvements from the beginning of the season in some of our new boys and will likely use them more in future meets. Not having safe conditions for the pole vault hurt the boys’ team since that was 10 points that [senior] Owen Mielnik would have scored for us.”

Decatur’s girls’ team scored 158 points to win the competition. Parkside came in second with 124.5, followed by Nandua (94.5), Snow Hill (61), Arcadia (30) and Pocomoke (20).

Lady Seahawks who scored points for the team for placing sixth or better were: seniors, Danera Collick (shot put, second, 23 feet 3 inches), Avery Braciszewski (400-meter dash, fifth, 1:17.80) and Miah Schwind (long jump, third, 11 feet 9 inches), juniors, Summer Brenner (300meter hurdles, second, 1:02.50; 100meter hurdles, fourth, 20.11 seconds; high jump, second, 4 feet 8 inches), Carolina Novelli (1,600-meter run, fifth, 6:37.55), Mackenzie Cathell (400-meter dash, sixth, 1:17.83), Summer Banks (200-meter dash, sixth, 30.59 seconds), Breanne Ferguson (long jump, first, 13 feet 2 inches; 800-meter run, fourth, 3:02.38) and Mayah Garner (high jump, first, 4 feet 8 inches), sophomores, Macy Woroniecki (1,600meter run, second, 6:13.07; 800-meter run, second, 2:57.56) and Tiara McDonald (400-meter dash, first, 1:09.95; 200-meter dash, fourth, 30.30 seconds), and freshmen, Amber Marshall (3,200-meter run, first, 14:35.43; 1,600-meter run, fourth, 6:37.34), Clarice Piela (3,200meter run, second, 15:33.50), Chloe Resnick (3,200-meter run, third, 16:47.73) and Julianna Wooden (high jump, third, 4 feet 2 inches).

Ferguson, Woroniecki, Novelli and Marshall won the 3,200-meter relay race (12:06.65).

Novelli, McDonald, junior Macy Seitz and Ferguson took first in the 1,600-meter relay race (4:52.43).

The 800-meter relay team of Macy Seitz, junior Leah Seitz, Banks and Wooden came in second place (2:09.54).

Schwind, both Seitzs and Banks finished in seventh place in the 400meter relay race (1:00.31).

Snow Hill won the boys’ competition, scoring 152 points. Finishing second through sixth were: Parkside (124), Nandua (107), Decatur (65), Arcadia (49) and Pocomoke (18).

Decatur athletes who scored points for placing sixth or better were: senior Rynell Brittingham (shot put, third, 35 feet 9 inches), juniors, Connor Herr (100-meter dash, sixth, 12.26 seconds), Curtez Schoolfield (200-meter dash, sixth, 26.48 seconds), Evan Justice (800-meter run, fourth, 2:39.04) and Jaden Holland (long jump, sixth, 15 feet 9 inches), sophomores, Ethan Justice (1,600meter run, first, 5:08.29; 800-meter run, first, 2:20.10) and Xavier Arnold (shot put, fifth, 34 feet 5 inches), and freshmen, Joseph Cipollone (800meter run, fifth, 2:39.05; 1,600meter run, sixth, 5:45.17), Luke Leffew (110-meter hurdles, sixth, 23.28 seconds) and Brian Herbert (3,200-meter run, fifth, 14:07.87).

Ethan and Evan Justice, Cipollone and senior Gavin McCabe took second in the 3,200-meter relay race (9:42.91).

Freshmen Solomon David and Brandon Fitzgerald, Schoolfield and Herr place third in the 800-meter relay race (1:48.35).

Herr, Holland, senior Zimere Handy and junior Ziquase Duffy came in third in the 400-meter relay race (49.40 seconds).

The 1,600-meter relay team of Fitzgerald, freshmen Alex Ward and Gavin Buchheit and sophomore Patrick Haines crossed the finish line fourth (4:36.75).

The next track meet is scheduled for Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. in Salisbury.

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY Clockwise, from left, sophomores Ethan Justice (1,600-meter run, 5:08.29, first place) and Macy Woroniecki (1,600-meter run, 6:13.07, second), senior Danera Collick (shot put, 23 feet 3 inches, second), and juniors Jaden Holland (long jump, 5 feet 9 inches, sixth) and Summer Banks (4x200 relay, 2:09.54, second).

Worcester Prep tennis teams earn victories over Parkside

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) The Worcester Prep boys’ and girls’ tennis teams both earned victories over the Parkside Rams on Wednesday in Salisbury.

Worcester’s boys’ team won, 7-0.

“They played well. They adjusted to the different situations/tactics that their opponent was giving them and reduced their unforced errors,” said Prep Coach Terry Underkoffler.

Freshman Aleksey Klimins won his first singles match, 8-2. Senior captain Graham McCabe pulled out a 7-4 victory in a tiebreaker set at second singles.

“Graham McCabe had to battle back after being up in the match 7-5, then his opponent came back and took the lead 8-7,” Underkoffler said. “Then, Graham broke his opponent’s serve and tied the match 8-8 and won in a tiebreaker, 7-4.”

Junior RJ Hamer took his third singles match, 8-4. Senior captain Riley Schoch outscored his fourth singles competition, 8-5.

Hamer and junior captain Harrison Humes topped their first doubles opponents, 8-3. Schoch and sophomore Dylan Simons won 8-5 at second doubles.

Juniors Jason Todorov and Ian Lewis earned an 8-3 victory at third doubles.

Worcester’s girls’ team won, 6-1.

“We played well despite the cold conditions. It was a very competitive match — a couple of our girls started slow but they pulled things together to finish strong,” said Prep Coach Kevin Chalk.

Scoring first through fourth singles victories were: senior captain Sumira Sehgal (8-0), sophomores Lebby Becker (8-4) and Natasha Richter (84) and freshman Lydia Schwartz (8-5).

Sehgal and Becker teamed up for first doubles. They shut out their competition, 8-0.

Richter and Schwartz edged out their second doubles opponents, 8-6.

“I’m proud of the grit they showed today. They adapted to their opponents well and were able to make great shots when it counted,” Chalk said. “We had a doubles team (second doubles) that was struggling at the net and they ended up going back to the baseline since they were more comfortable there. That adjustment turned things around and they won the match.”

The next competition is today, Friday, at 4 p.m. in Berlin against the Gunston School Herons. Worcester will then host the Salisbury School Dragons on Tuesday at 4 p.m. By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (April 1, 2022) The Stephen Decatur tennis teams took a trip down the road to play the Pocomoke Warriors on Tuesday and both came home with victories.

The Decatur boys’ team won all seven matches.

Earning victories at first through fourth singles were: senior captain Noah Fisher (8-0), sophomore David Janney (8-0), senior captain Ben Johnson (8-0) and sophomore Matt Beck (8-1).

Fisher and Johnson shut out their first doubles competition, 8-0. Janney and Beck topped their second doubled opponents, 8-0.

Senior Ethan Hansford and sophomore Briggs Pugner scored an 8-0 victory at third doubles.

“The guys did great. We only lost one game. They were focused. They’ve put the practice in and they’re psyched to be getting in some matches now,” Decatur Coach Steve Berquist said. “We’ve got a competitive group. It’s one of the stronger teams I’ve coached. We’ve got a good team atmosphere this year. Everyone cheers for each other and there’s a lot of high-fives after the matches.”

The Lady Seahawks won, 6-1.

Junior Ridgley Lake pulled out a 9-7 victory at first singles against 2021 state finalist Marli McDorman. Lake trailed 6-7, and battle back winning the next three games.

Junior Sarah Tarr edged out her second singles opponent, 9-7. Tarr fell behind 0-3 early, but fought back and pulled ahead, 4-3. The match went back and forth. Down 6-7, she took the next three for the victory.

Freshman Emily Ferguson outscored her third singles competition, 8-3.

Lake and Ferguson topped their first doubles competition, 8-5.

Tarr and sophomore Kalli Nordstrom earned an 8-4 victory at second doubles.

Freshmen Brooke Berquist and Anika Karli won 8-4 at third doubles.

“I thought that the girls played very well,” said Decatur Coach Jamie Greenwood. “We cruised to three doubles win. Singles were a little more challenging.

“Our numbers one and two seeds had to persevere and play through some rough patches during their matches, but they played well,” he continued. “Overall, I thought the girls played well and are continuing to improve.”

Decatur will head to Princess Anne on Tuesday to play the Washington Jaguars at 4 p.m.

The Seahawks will take on the Worcester Prep Mallards the following day at 4 p.m. The girls will play on Worcester’s courts and the boys at Decatur.