Sports

Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com May 13, 2022 Page 64

Student-athletes at Decatur to play sports in college

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (May 13, 2022) Twenty-four Stephen Decatur student-athletes who will continue their sports at the collegiate level were celebrated last Wednesday during a National Letter of Intent/Commitment ceremony at the Berlin school.

They are:

Noah Fisher, tennis, Frostburg State University

Tristan Dutton, cross country, Salisbury University

Joe Buxbaum, lacrosse, Florida Southern College

Collin Fohner, lacrosse, Hereford Community College

James Barrett, soccer, Radford University

Zimere Handy, football, Frostburg State University

Ashten Snelsire, football, Richmond University

Logan Tapman, baseball, University of Lynchburg

Emma Sperry, cheerleading, North Carolina State University

Skylar Griffin, softball, University of New Haven

Chloe Candeloro, softball, McDaniel

Alexa Eisemann, softball, West Liberty University

Shawn Rosemond, baseball, Salisbury University

Duncan Ely, football, Salisbury University

RJ Brittingham, football, Post University

Khi Reid, football, Salisbury University

Megan Wheeler, lacrosse, University of Lynchburg

Malery Andrews, lacrosse, Washington College

Luke Scott, football, Salisbury University

Shaki Bowen, lacrosse, Harford Community College

Nadia Bullock, basketball, Salisbury University

Sierra Wakefield, swimming, Salisbury University

Noah Reho, wrestling, Bloomsburg University

Kressen Memmott Muir, football, Southern Utah University

Three lacrosse players – Meredith Eitel (Saint Leo University), Emma Meyer (Gardner-Webb) and Darby Moore (Queens University of Charlotte) – were recognized in November after announcing they would be playing at the collegiate level.

“They all represent the school well. They’re all great student-athletes,” said Athletic Director Dan Dobronz. “For some of the kids [playing high school sports] is the best part of their day – exercising, socializing and competing with their friends.

“It’s great being back out there on the field, in the fresh air playing the sport that they love,” he added.

In total, 27 seniors have committed to play Division I, II and III sports at colleges and universities across the country.

“Looking at the picture [of all the athletes who participated in the ceremony], what a diverse group it is. It’s a great mix of kids,” Dobronz said. “So many sports are represented. It shows we’re not just a one-sport school. The teams are competitive. The kids are competitive.”

“There’s a couple more that have yet to make their final decision, so we’re pushing 30,” said Decatur Principal Tom Sites.

“We’re having a year like no other in terms of sports. We have a talented group of kids here and the coaching staff does a great job of getting our kids seen,” he added.

PHOTO COURTESY MARY BERQUIST/SDHS Twenty-four Stephen Decatur student-athletes who will continue their sports at the collegiate level were celebrated last Wednesday during a National Letter of Intent/Commitment ceremony at the Berlin school.

Decatur boys’ tennis squad wins Bayside championship

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (May 13, 2022) After a long, twohour bus ride to Stevensville on Wednesday for the Bayside Conference championship match against the Kent Island Buccaneers, it took the Stephen Decatur boys’ tennis team a little while to get going. But once the Seahawks found their rhythm, they were unstoppable and secured the championship title.

“It was a great way to end the sea-

The student-athletes will compete in an assortment of sports at the collegiate level.

“Just about all of the sports [offered at Decatur] were represented during the ceremony,” Sites said. “The kids learn so much from athletics, from sports in high school [and] teamwork for a common goal. Success in the classroom and athletics prepares them for the future.”

“Hopefully, the younger kids see their friends and teammates going off to play at the next level and it motivates then a little bit,” Dobronz added. son,” said Decatur Coach Steve Berquist.

The doubles matches were played first on Wednesday.

Decatur senior captains Noah Fisher and Ben Johnson outscored their first doubles opponents, 8-6. Kent Island won the second and third doubles matches.

All four of Decatur’s singles players earned victories in their matches, giving the team a 5-2 victory over Kent Island.

“They were definitely in control the entire time,” Berquist said. “All four played great singles. It was enough to carry us to the championship.”

Fisher shut out his first singles competition, 8-0, and Johnson topped his second singles opponent, 8-4.

Sophomore David Janney won, 82, at third singles. Sophomore Matt Beck took his fourth singles match, 83.

“We needed to get our legs back after the long bus ride. Doubles was almost like a warmup for us,” Berquist said. “We played much betSee DECATUR Page 65

PHOTO COURTESY STEVE BERQUIST The Stephen Decatur boys’ tennis team is all smiles after capturing the Bayside Conference championship in Stevensville on Wednesday. The boys won, 5-2, over Kent Island.

SD baseball team Bayside champs

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (May 13, 2022) With the score 3-2 in Stephen Decatur’s favor in the first inning of the Bayside Conference baseball championship on Tuesday, it looked like the game against the St. Michael’s Saints was going to be a close battle.

But that wasn’t the case, as Decatur tacked on run after run and held its opponent scoreless the rest of the competition – which only lasted five innings – going on to win 17-2 in Salisbury.

“We didn’t think it would happen the way it did. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing in a championship game, they’re there for a reason. We just played well,” said Decatur Coach Rich Ferro. “We took advantage of some miscues, we put the ball in play, got some timely hits and we played good defense behind [pitcher] Ryan [McLaughlin].”

Leading by one run after the first, the Seahawks scored six in the second, four in the third and four in the fifth.

“After the first inning we settled in and kind of just tacked on,” Ferro said.

Sophomore Lukas Loring led Decatur with three hits and two RBIs. Junior Gus Croll chipped in with two hits and four RBIs. Senior Logan Tapman had one hit and two RBIs.

“It’s frustrating when you have runners on base and you can’t score them. It comes down to us getting those timely hits and that didn’t happen part of the season. [During the Bayside game] we were able to do that,” Ferro said. “It was nice to be able to get hits and do the things we like to do. We had some really big hits, and we pitched well.”

Junior Ryan McLaughlin started on the mound. In 3.1 innings he struck out two, walked four, gave up three hits and two runs. At the plate, he had two hits and three RBIs.

Junior Adam Gardner struck out three and allowed one hit in 1.2 innings.

“Ryan kept us in the game. He was really good, and Adam came in to finish it off,” Ferro said. “Overall, it was just a good evening for Stephen Decatur baseball. We’ll take it and cherish it, but now we have the playoffs where it’s one and done.”

The last time Decatur won the Bayside title was in 2014.

Decatur earned the No. 1 seed in the 3A South Region tournament and will host the winner of yesterday’s game between No. 4 James M. Bennett and No. 5 Crofton on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Berlin.

Decatur played Bennett twice during the regular season. The Seahawks won the first, 6-4. Bennett took the second, 9-7.

“We just need to stay focused and stay where we’re at. We need to stress if we’re not hitting, we’ve still got to play good defense,” Ferro said. “It comes down to us being able to hit. If we’re swinging the bats relatively well then I think we have a shot. And we have to pitch and play defense well. That’s our M.O. We’ve got to go out there and get after it.”

PAGE 65 Decatur singles players lead team to conference title

Continued from Page 64 ter in singles than doubles. They got fired up, they supported each other and they stayed motivated and focused.”

The last time the Decatur boys’ team won the Bayside title was in 2009. The program also captured the title in 1993 and 2008.

“Everyone is really excited. Winning the championship is awesome,” Berquist said. “I’m very proud of the guys.”

Decatur’s boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in the 2A East Regional tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday in Cambridge.

Fisher and junior Ridgley Lake will play in singles competition.

Janney and Beck will team up for doubles action as will freshmen Emily Ferguson and Anika Karli.

Johnson will battle in mixed doubles competition with junior Sarah Tarr.

The first-place male and female singles players and doubles teams and the top mixed doubles squad will advance to the state tournament.

Wor. Prep boys’ lax squad outscores Salisbury, 17-2

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (May 13, 2022) The Worcester Prep boys’ lacrosse team won big in its final game of the regular season, 17-2, over the Salisbury School Dragons on Wednesday in Salisbury.

“Having not played a game for over a week, the team traveled to Salisbury for their Senior Day, and jumped on them early and often, taking a 10-0 in the first quarter,” said Prep Coach Drew Haugh. “With such a large early lead, many other players got into the game early, and did great. Everybody got an opportunity to play a lot of minutes.”

Worcester led 13-1 at halftime. After three quarters, the Mallards held a 16-2 advantage.

Freshman Ryan Mann led the team with seven goals. Senior captain Brice Richins scored three goals and junior captain Griffin Jones tallied two goals and five assists.

Junior captain Jack Gardner and senior Michael Wehberg netted two goals apiece. Freshman Jack Lynch scored one.

Senior captain, goalie Bennett Tinkler, recorded four saves.

“Because of AP testing and other conflicts, freshman Dillon Scopp and sophomore Abott Browne got their first start at midfield, and both played a great game. [Freshman] Drew McCormick took advantage of extra playing time and did a nice job at midfield,” Haugh said. “Defensive midfielders, [sophomores] Connor Ferguson and Kannon Cropper, kept their opponents away from the goal. Defensively, [sophomore] Max Halle was exceptional in his play. [Freshmen] Owen West and Frank Miller, [sophomores] Caleb Collins and Mason Williams took advantage of their extra minutes of playing time … [and sophomore] Baylor Hoen played great defense, showing some exceptional stick skills throughout the game.”

Worcester will host the Gunston School Herons today, Friday, at 3:30 p.m. for the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference championship.

The Mallards defeated the Herons, 12-5 and 17-5, during the regular season.

PHOTO COURTESY JOCELYN SNELSIRE The Stephen Decatur softball team held on to win, 4-3, over Queen Anne’s on Tuesday in Salisbury and capture the Bayside Conference championship title.

SD softball team Bayside champs

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (May 13, 2022) It was a close battle between the Stephen Decatur and Queen Anne’s softball teams on Tuesday during the Bayside Conference championship in Salisbury. The Decatur Seahawks held off a late push by the Lions and won the game, 4-3.

“We played Queen Anne’s before so we knew the pitcher and hitters, and we knew we had to play our best game,” said Decatur Coach Scott Kurtz. When the teams met on April 20 during regular-season play, Queen Anne’s won on Decatur’s field, 2-0. “We knew we had a chance and could play with them. We put in the work to get ready. They just locked in. They went in with an underdog mentality and they just put it together.”

Queen Anne’s went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning of the championship match. Decatur answered in the top of the fourth then pulled ahead, 2-1, in the fifth. The Lady Seahawks tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh to give themselves a two-run cushion.

The Lions came on strong in the bottom of seventh with a two-run home run to cut the Seahawks’ advantage to one.

With Queen Anne’s runners on first and second and two outs, Decatur senior pitcher Skylar Griffin struck out the player at the plate to secure the victory and the championship for her team.

“The difference between the two games with Queen Anne’s was that we hit better in the second game,” Kurtz said. “In the first game we were stranding runners. This time we moved them and the girls were running the bases aggressively. We were preparing all week and knew what to expect. We knew we can pitch and play defense well, but it would come down to whether we can hit the ball.”

Griffin pitched all seven innings for Decatur. She struck out four, walked one, gave up five hits and three runs. She also had two hits in the game.

Senior Alexa Eisemann (one RBI) and junior Sarah Smith had two hits each. Freshman Ava Snelsire chipped in with one hit and two RBIs.

Sophomores Leah Simpson (one RBI) and Kiara Taylor and freshman Ryleigh Smith contributed with one hit apiece.

“Swinging early and getting good contact early was a good indication the hits would start coming, and they did,” Kurtz said.

Decatur last won the conference championship in 2019. There was no season in 2020 because of covid. In 2021 the season was condensed and there was no conference championship game played.

“We’ve won twice in a row, but with two years in between,” Kurtz said.

Decatur received the No. 2 seed in the MPSSAA 3A South Region tournament and will host the winner of No. 6 James M. Bennett vs. No. 3 Arundel on Monday at 4 p.m. in Berlin. Those two teams were slated to go head-to-head yesterday, Thursday.

“We’re excited we got the No. 2 seed in our region. Chesapeake is the defending state champs and the No. 1 seed in our region so we’re going to have to be ready,” Kurtz said. “Our team is coming along as could be hoped. We have had a couple underclass players seize positions in the field and at the plate and their hard work has elevated our team through this season.

“We will keep our pitchers ‘fresh,’ rested, but still active enough for them to be their best,” he continued. “Our fielding is still a strength, so we will mainly focus on our hitting and base running [to prepare for the tournament].”

Kurtz said he has no doubt in his players’ ability and skills.

“We just have to go out, keep adjusting and make the right decisions to succeed. We want the girls to stay positive and keep enjoying the ride,” he said. “We are still progressing. We were in a valley earlier this season where our girls were letting off-field issues effect their play on the field [but] we have been playing much stronger over the last two weeks and we hope to keep that momentum going into the state playoffs.”