Sports

Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com June 17, 2022 Page 60

Decatur softball, baseball, lacrosse players recognized

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 17, 2022) A number of Stephen Decatur High School athletes received Bayside South Conference awards for their performance during the spring softball, baseball and lacrosse seasons.

SOFTBALL:

Senior Skylar Griffin was named Bayside South Pitcher of the Year.

“Skylar started every game in the circle for us this year. She was consistent and had a great season,” said Decatur Coach Scott Kurtz. “She gave up less than 50 hits in 23 games, which is approximately two hits per game. She also surpassed 100 strikeouts for the season and came just shy of reaching 200. All great accomplishments for her senior season on the mound.”

Griffin’s career pitching record at Decatur was 30-5. She finished the 2022 season with 180 strikeouts. For her three-year career (the 2020 season was canceled because of covid) she recorded 276 strikeouts.

Griffin also finished the season with the highest batting average on the team (.465).

She also earned a spot on the Bayside South First Team with senior Alexa Eisemann and freshman Ryleigh Smith.

Second Team award recipients were freshman Ava Snelsire, and sophomores Kiara Taylor and Leah Simpson.

Honorable mention accolades went to senior Chloe Candeloro, junior Sarah Smith and freshman Madison McGinnis.

“We are proud to place our entire starting line-up on the All-Bayside Team. It speaks to the balance we had as a team, that every girl contributed to our team’s success and accomplishments this year,” Kurtz said.

Kurtz presented team awards to: Griffin (Pitching Excellence Award), Eisemann (Outstanding Leadership), Ryleigh Smith (Rookie of the Year) and McGinnis (Sportsmanship).

The Stephen Decatur softball team had a successful season, finishing in the top four in the MPSSAA 3A state tournament, falling in the semifinals.

Decatur finished the season with a 20-3 record.

The Lady Seahawks were back-toback Bayside Conference champions (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.)

The team also won the program’s first regional title since 1991.

BASEBALL:

Earning First Team honors were: seniors Logan Tapman and Shawn Rosemond and juniors Ryan McLaughlin and Gus Croll.

Receiving Second Team distinction were: junior Owen Knerr, and sophomores Caden Shockley and Lukas Loring.

Juniors Stephen Wade and Adam Gardner and sophomore AJ Kolb were presented honorable mention awards.

“They’re a really great group of guys,” said Coach Rich Ferro. “They were a very successful group, and not just in baseball but in the classroom as well.”

Ferro presented team awards to: Rosemond (Offensive MVP), Knerr (Defensive MVP), Wade (Coach’s Award) and junior Brooks Kendall (Sportsmanship).

Decatur finished the season with a 17-3 record. The team captured its first Bayside Conference championship title since 2014.

Shelby Rosemond - First Team Midfield

Joe Buxbaum - Bayside South Defensive Player of the Year Skylar Griffin - Bayside South Pitcher of the Year

Ryan McLaughlin - First Team

Continued from Page 60

GIRLS’ LACROSSE:

Senior captains Emma Meyer and Meredith Eitel scored a spot on the Bayside South First Team Defense.

Juniors Mia Kemp and Shelby Rosemond and senior captain Darby Moore were named to the First Team Midfield.

First Team Attack accolades went to junior Audrey Mumford and senior Saige Figgs.

Second Team award winners were: defense – senior Megan Wheeler and sophomore Abby Melito; midfield – junior Alina Bernal-Clark and sophomore Sadie Kauffman.

Receiving honorable mention recognition were: senior goalie Ryleigh Cunnane and senior Hannah Short.

“The program and coaching staff are so proud of the 13 student athletes that received All-Conference honors. They’ve worked tremendously hard this season and left it all out on the field,” said Coach Lindsay Owens. “These 13 players would not have been successful and received these honors without the help of the rest of their team, so a huge shout out to them as well.”

Owens was named Coach of the Year.

“It was an honor to receive the Coach of the Year award, especially amongst a talented group of Bayside South Conference coaches,” she said. “This award is shared with the entire Stephen Decatur girls’ lacrosse coaching staff, as it’s a group effort to get our girls prepared. Their advice, hard work, and dedication to the program is invaluable.”

Owens presented team awards to: Moore (Academic All-American), Kemp (MVP), Short (Sportsmanship), Rosemond (G.R.I.T. Award), Wheeler (Coach’s Award), Meyer (Clip In Rope Award - Team Theme) and Figgs (Unsung Hero).

Decatur finished the season with a 7-7 overall record.

BOYS’ LACROSSE:

Senior captain Joe Buxbaum was named Bayside South Defensive Player of the Year.

“All year he’s been a rock for us on defense,” said Coach “Hoffy” Hoffman. “He’s been a tremendous leader on and off the field.”

Buxbaum also earned First Team Defense honors.

Also receiving First Team recognition were: junior Gabe Geiser (midfield), senior Shaki Bowen (long stick midfield), senior captain Jeff Eichelberger (attack), senior Austin Airey (attack) and senior captain Collin Fohner (goalie).

Second Team awards went to: senior captain Luke Bahlman (midfield), seniors Lance Adams (attack) and Henry Brous (defense).

Freshmen Luke Popielaski and Owen Sperry received honorable mention distinction.

“We had a great year. They took responsibly for their roles and we had success because of that,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman was named Bayside South Coach of the Year.

“I’m humbled and grateful for the honor,” Hoffman said. “It’s more of a reflection of the team instead of just me.”

Hoffman presented team awards to: Buxbaum (Defense), Eichelberger (Offense) and Bowen (MVP).

Decatur finished the season with a 10-5 record.

Tuna and Tiaras tourney moved to next wknd.

Second annual fishing competition for ladies to benefit WSW organization

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 17, 2022) The second annual Tuna and Tiaras tournament was postponed a week due to poor weather and fishing conditions offshore.

“The seas were very unfavorable for both fishing days and safety is our first concern,” said organizer Pam Taylor.

So instead of the event taking place today and Saturday, it will be held June 24-25.

Final registration for the tournament is Thursday, June 23, from 5-8 p.m. at the Ocean City Fishing Center in West Ocean City.

The cost to participate is $400 per boat for up to six anglers. Teams must enter at least one calcutta, which range in cost from $250-$500, and include: Heaviest Single Tuna Split (50/30/20), Heaviest Single Tuna winner take all, Tuna Stringer Split (50/30/20) and Tuna Stringer winner take all.

There are also added entry-level calcuttas for small boats (35 feet and under) daily heaviest stringer and single tuna, as well as mahi and wahoo.

Teams can fish one out of the two tournament days: either Friday, June 24 or Saturday, June 25. Weigh-ins will take place from 4-7 p.m. at the Ocean City Fishing Center.

There will also be a photo contest, with several categories to enter. Photos must be taken on the day of a team’s registered trip. Winners will be determined by the amount of “likes” on the Tuna and Tiaras Facebook page, and prizes will be awarded.

The tournament will again benefit Women Supporting Women of Salisbury. Its services include prosthetic breast fittings, wigs, educational tote bags, lift chair loaner program and community-related events to educate the public.

All of its services are free. In addition to its main office, support groups are held in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester counties.

The tournament presented $7,750 to Women Supporting Women following the 2021 event and Taylor said she would like to hit $10,000 this year.

The inaugural Tuna and Tiaras tournament in 2021 was a huge success, with 159 lady anglers fishing on 36 boats and more than $64,000 in prize money awarded. More than 1,900 pounds of tuna was weighed in 2021.

“We are anticipating huge growth this year,” Taylor said last week. “It’s hard to put a number on how many we expect, but the response and interest from new anglers and boats that didn’t fish with us last year has been incredibly positive.”

For more information about the tournament, visit https://tunaandtiaras.com.

Pitch, Hit and Run contest held this Saturday in Berlin

(June 17, 2022) Boys and girls ages 7 to 14 are invited to participate in Pitch, Hit and Run with Worcester County Recreation and Parks.

Players will participate in this oneday skills competition at the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex, Senior Field in Berlin on Saturday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants may stop in at any time for their skills assessment on pitching, hitting and running. The assessment will take approximately five minutes per individual.

Event winners will be required to provide a birth certificate to verify age before advancing to sectionals, with hopes to move on to partake at a big league ball park. Pre-registration is recommended at www.pitchhitrun.com.

For more information, contact Tyler Keiser at 410-632-2144 x2505 or tkeiser@marylandscoast.org.

To view more upcoming free youth programs visit www.playmarylandscoast.org.

MDDC Generac 2 x 4

Rotating spots daily for surfing from 10-5:30

By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer (June 17, 2022) It’s hard to believe, at least for me, that Memorial Day is already a memory. The three-day weekend has always been known as the beginning of the season. Lifeguards are in the stands, plenty of people are on the beach and surfing restrictions are appar-

ent.

It’s a 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. period where surfing is not allowed except for two block-long rotating beaches.

Conversely, before 10 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m. are “golden” in regards to surfing.

During the shoulder seasons and through the winter one can surf anywhere and everywhere. The off-season can be a blessing, though in season it’s more like a curse.

At any rate, the obvious and not so obvious can run the gamut from minor to major, piddly to big deal. Crazy how all of this stuff can happen in such a short period of time.

Before you know it, it will be the Fourth of July with Labor Day not too far behind.

Summer is such a glorious time. An interval that always amazes, never ceasing to please and enjoy. It’s a time for being outside despite the heat and humidity.

Entering the ocean, whether surfing or otherwise, can be quite relieving, especially regarding this heat and humidity.

As the saying goes, it’s not the heat it’s the humidity, an issue always a source of consternation.

The seasonal crowds will coincide with crowds of surfers in the water. This can be a common occurrence at surfing beaches during restricted hours.

The one block-long areas can get quite packed. The town is crowded. It’s going to take a longer time to get to where one wants to go. It’s not like the city of course.

People from Baltimore and Washington are probably used to such situations but those that live here in the off-season might find it annoying.

Parking is an issue as well. Being used to having a choice of multiple spaces might not be the situation during the summer season. Just another case of frustration and annoyance for the year-round person.

And how about all of those projects that were suppose to be accomplished during the off-season?

Memorial Day is a reminder that they got done or they didn’t.

Sometimes there are valid reasons for such: It was too cold, too rainy, too dark, or materials weren’t available, etcetera, etcetera.

All of these issues are factors in the lives of residents, visitors and surfers alike.

These are problems of life in general, all coming to a head, seeming to be such a surprise, when a significant point in time comes about.

Regarding the issue of surfing and access to the waves, an idea that’s been personal to me for a long time, and probably many others as well, is one of extended surfing hours.

For example, instead of having 10 a.m. as the cut-off time to exit the water, make it 11 a.m.

Conversely, in the afternoon, make the time come to 4:30 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m. to be able to enter back into the water and surf.

This would obviously be an advantage to the surfer and hopefully not so much of a disadvantage to the swimmer.

At any rate the season is upon us. If the visitors didn’t show up a lot of us wouldn’t be able to make a living in this resort area.

Ah, the summer season. Enjoy it as best you can! — Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City.