Cabbage Patch Katie – I called her Katie from the Cabbage Patch when I taught her in a class on Democracy in 2002. Katie Elrod was always a cuddly, lovable child. On Sunday morning, after the Race for the Ribbon 5K race at Cape Henlopen State Park, Katie Elrod Arrietta popped out of the leaves, closing the gap with 22 years. She hugged me, just clinging on and crying. Katie was diagnosed with melanoma in 2021 and continues to fight through hardships. Proceeds from the race were donated to Katie. Her 8-year-old son Logan (“My birthday is Friday”) took a picture with my camera after I gave him a 20-second lesson. Children instantly connect with those who are loved by their parents. That’s the Muppet Matrix here at Sesame Street by the Sea. “We” are still here, looking out for each other. Those who know, know. Sharing struggles and successes on Sunday morning, let’s call it church.
Cape athletes who won championships – Caravel softball, led by coach Randy Johnson, won another state championship on May 31 with a 2-0 victory over Sussex Central. My brain started downloading the list of Cape athletes who have turned coach and won at least one state championship: Robin Adair, field hockey, Tower Hill; George Pepper, boys cross country and girls track and field, Cape; Ben Evick, baseball, Cape; Tim Bamforth, boys track and field, Cape; Dan Cook, girls tennis, Cape; Ruth Skogland (Rehoboth graduate), field hockey, Cape; John Coveleski, boys lacrosse, Caesar Rodney; Jack Lingo, boys lacrosse, Cape; Billy Cunningham, baseball, Appoquinimink; Nancy Steen Trivette, field hockey, Sussex Tech. I’m waiting for the artificial intelligence to expand to all the permutations embedded in all the championships over the last 55 years.
Directory published – Salesianum won two state championships on the same day, June 1, beating Cape in lacrosse and Caesar Rodney in baseball. This gives Surrys nine state titles in scholastic sports for the 2023-24 school year, and that’s just for boys. In every tournament, there was a team with a chance to knock Salesianum off the top of the podium. Cape lost to them four times, including football, soccer, lacrosse and track and field. To call Surrys a Tri-State All-Star after a loss, while using the dreaded words “recruit” and “scholarship” to accuse the team of playing unfairly, sounds like sour grapes. Delaware’s scholastic sports are governed by the DIAA, but for a small state, they are endlessly quirky, from sport to sport, from private to public, and whatever niche charter schools fit into. When my people start rambling on about the pros and cons of school sports, I usually say, “Stop it!” “Can you stand in the middle of the Cape University campus, between two grass fields, watching all the state championship games and talk about disadvantages?” I have no idea where Salesianum gets their boys from. They’re good at everything. But it’s only fair to try and analyze their roster. At the same time, look at all the schools, because the train has left the station and we’ve run out of tracks.
Bonus Holidays – The Phillies and Mets will play two games in London next weekend. Roster size will expand to 27 players, who will receive a $70,000 bonus under the collective bargaining agreement. Professional sports is a dream world for athletes at the peak of their careers. Getting back to the same grounding of everyday life as the rest of us is a tough adjustment.
Scraps – Susan and I both gave commencement speeches at Cape High School, but now there is no speaker at the ceremony. I can’t help but wonder if our performance influenced that decision. As far as I know, I am the only person to have given a commencement speech in prison. The boot camp program at Sussex Correctional Institution was exhilarating for me. I made connections and knew some of the graduates, but when they received their diplomas, they tried to hide like serial killers on TV. Cape Vikings Basketball Camp Session 1, directed by Coach Steve Lee, will be held Monday-Wednesday, June 17-19, at Beacon. The co-ed camp is for grades 4-8. To register, call Coach Lee at 410-430-7852 or email capehenlopenboysbasketball@gmail.com. Camp hours are 9am-12pm. Cape High School spring football practice will be on the turf field from 3-5pm each day this week (graduation is on Tuesday). Caitlin Clark scored a career-low three points as the New York Liberty stunned the Indiana Fever 104-68 in front of 17,000 fans. Betnija Rainey Hamilton led the Liberty with 20 points. Smyrna is here! Rainey’s Smyrna beat Cape 59-55 in the 2010 semifinals. Rainey had 22 points and Cape’s Jonesha Warren had 25. Betnija’s mother, Yolanda Rainey, was on the 1982 Cheyney State team that reached the NCAA finals but lost to Louisiana Tech. Go for it!
