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Salesianum senior attack Mike Drake, who scored two goals in the Sals’ championship-game win on June 3, has been named the 2017 state boys lacrosse player of the year. Drake will continue his athletic career at the University of Notre Dame.
He is one of six players from Catholic schools who earned first-team honors. The selections were announced June 5 by the state lacrosse coaches association. Read more »
For The Dialog
DOVER – Second-seeded Salesianum’s lacrosse team won its third straight title with a 13-5 win over fourth-seeded Cape Henlopen on June 3 at Dover High School. The Sals got a goal by Patrick Drake 15 seconds in and never trailed in winning their sixth title in the last seven years and ninth overall. Read more »
Dialog reporter
SMYRNA – Middletown entered the girls’ Division I state championship girls soccer match with Padua already without the Delaware player of the year, Alyssa Poarch, and shortly before halftime, the Cavaliers lost goalkeeper Taylor Wolf to an injury. But an early goal by Alexa Rodriguez held up, thanks mainly to the play of emergency keeper Mary Warren, and the top-seeded Cavaliers ended No. 2 Padua’s five-year reign as state champions with a 1-0 win June 3 at Smyrna High School.
Each team had to play a half staring into a setting sun at Charles V. Williams Stadium, and Rodriguez took advantage in the 13th minute. The Pandas had controlled possession until then, but they had few opportunities to beat Wolf. The momentum swung Middletown’s way, and when Rodriguez found herself with the ball and a bit of space about 25 yards from the net, she struck. Her blast just eluded the outstretched fingers of keeper Katie Szczerba – who had a bright sun in her face – and tucked under the crossbar for the game’s lone tally. Read more »
Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – St. Mark’s baseball team put three runners on base and scored once during the first inning of their state semifinal game vs. second-seeded Caravel on June 1, but the Spartans struggled on offense the rest of the afternoon in a 6-1 defeat. The loss brought the team’s season to an end with a record of 14-7.
The day began well enough for the Spartans, the sixth seed. Chris Ludman doubled down the left-field line, and the next batter, Brian Gilardi, singled to right, bringing in a run. Gilardi took second on the throw home, but despite a walk to Eric Ludman, Caravel pitcher Joe Silan was able to escape further trouble. Read more »
Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Salesianum and Hodgson engaged in an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel when the teams met in state baseball tournament quarterfinal action on May 31, but the Sals’ bats came through late in a 4-2 victory. Sallies moves on to face top-seeded Conrad on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium.
The 13th-seeded Silver Eagles scratched out a run in the top of the fourth, and with the way their pitcher, William Hart, was dealing, it appeared that lone tally might be enough. But No. 5 Salesianum rebounded to tie the game in the fifth and scored three times in the bottom of the sixth. That was enough to get the victory. Read more »
For The Dialog
FREDERICA – Fourth-seeded St Mark’s enjoyed a splendid season in girls lacrosse, going from missing the tournament in 2016 to earning its third finals appearance this season. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they ran into a buzzsaw in No. 3 Cape Henlopen, who captured their ninth straight state championship with a 19-7 win on May 30 at the Delaware Turf Sports Complex in Frederica. Read more »
For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – The fifth-seeded Salesianum baseball team got an impressive start from junior Eugene Holler and defeated the 12th-seeded Milford Buccaneers, 3-0, on May 27. Holler pitched six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit, before Jack Fiala pitched the seventh for the save.
Salesianum’s Joe Setting crosses first base on a run-scoring infield single. (The Dialog/Jason Winchell)
The Sals’ offense scored two runs in the first with a two-out rally. Senior catcher Zach Miller drew a two-out walk and was replaced at first base by courtesy runner Joseph Poma. He stole second and then scampered to third on a throwing error. He scored on an infield single by Joseph Setting, and Setting came around on a hit-and-run double by Zach Gwynn.
Sallies got strong defensive plays from Alex Hinton and Gwynn to keep the 2-0 lead. Bucs freshman pitcher Chad Reichhold did a great job keeping the Sals’ hitters off balance after that first inning. The Sals added an unearned run in the fifth.
Salesianum had six hits, including five doubles by Gwynn, Miller, Hinton, Josh McGwire and Anthony Frechette. The Sals (13-6) will host Hodgson on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Salesianum, the second seed in the boys’ state lacrosse tournament, outscored No. 7 Delaware Military Academy, 15-2, over the final three quarters to take home a 19-4 win on May 27. The Sals advance to the semifinals against sixth-seeded Caesar Rodney on Wednesday night.
Salesianum’s Mike Drake (left) gets ready to take a shot against Delaware Military Academy. (The Dialog/Jason Winchell)
The Seahawks stayed close in the first quarter as Marcus Cook and Dallas Towner scored early goals. The Sals got goals from seniors Mike Drake and Taylor Witherell to lead 4-2 at the end of the first quarter. After A Towner goal to cut the Sals lead to 5-3, Salesianum’s offense exploded. Brett Hobbs, Patrick Drake and Witherell scored in a 42-second span to make it 8-3 lead.
Carter Klassman cut the Sals’ lead in half at 8-4 with 4:34 left in the first half. The Sals picked up five straight goals, including two each from Witherell and Patrick Drake. One of Drake’s was into an empty net when he picked off a clearing pass. The Sals took the 13-4 lead into the break and added five more goals in the third quarter.
The Sals (13-3) will wait for the time and location for their semifinal showdown with the Riders on Wednesday. The Sals beat the Riders, 17-3, on May 16.
Dialog reporter
MIDDLETOWN – Abby Podolsky had been here before – just a year ago, in fact – as Delaware high school tennis’ top seed in second singles, facing a formidable opponent from perennial power Caesar Rodney. She came in a very respectable second place in 2016, but on May 26 at St. Andrew’s School, Podolsky made sure there would be no repeat.
With CR’s Halle Parker on a different court playing for the first singles championship, Podolsky matched up with the Riders’ Natasha Sijan, the two-time defending champion at third singles. Podolsky split the first two sets with Sijan, built up a big lead in the third and deciding set before battling to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win. The triumph capped an undefeated season for the Archmere senior. For Sijan, the two-time defending state champion at third singles, it was her first and only loss of the season. Read more »
For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – The fifth-seeded Archmere Auks scored early and often to cruise past No. 12 Conrad, 20-2, on May 24 in a boys lacrosse tournament opening-round matchup. Mitchell Moyer and Cole Bauer each scored five goals to pace the Auks. Read more »
