Please Subscribe to our Newsletter
The Cape Henlopen Vikings capture the 2025 DIAA Baseball state championship as they hold off a comeback from the Conrad Red Wolves. Cape jumped out to an early lead, but Conrad battled to their very last out in a 6-4 win for the Vikings.
Cape got on the board in the bottom on a Trey Hitchcock grounded out that scored Brady Kosc. The Vikings then scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning to take a 6-0 lead. Malachi Woods drew a walk, and scored one run, Aaden Johnson singled, scoring two runs, Liam Mitchell hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run, and Dom Mangini singled, scoring one run to finish the inning.
Conrad answered with a three run top of the fourth to cut the lead in half. Justin O’Connor and Andrew Shute hit back to back singles. O’Connor scored on an error by the Vikings which allowed Dylan Pirrung to reach safely as well. Jonathan Downes then doubled, knocking in both Shute and Putting to bring the score to 6-3.
In the top of the seventh down to their last chance the Red Wolves battled with their backs against the wall. Nicholas Dello Buono started off the inning with a single. A few batters later Jack Fleetwood singled as well. With two runners on, Mark Spoor hit a deep fly ball to center field that was dropped by the Cape’s center fielder which scored Dello Buono. It put runners on second and third with Spoor being the game tying run at second.
Cape decided to make a pitching change removing starter Jackson Clampitt. Clampitt went six innings allowing five hits and four earned runs. In relief Jacob Smith came in and only needed one pitch to close the game out. Smith was able to make Max Hansen fly out to shortstop Brady Kosc who secured the out and the state championship.
Jackson Clampitt got the win for the Vikings on the mound. Aaden Johnson led the Vikings at the plate going 2-for-3 scoring one rune while knocking in one run. Liam Mitchell, Mangini, Hitchcock, and Woods each drove in one run for Cape.
Justin O’Connor went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Conrad. Jon Downes went 1-for-3 on the day with two runs batted to lead the Red Wolves in RBI’s
Cape Henlopen won their second championship in the last three years. Their last championship came in 2022 with a 4-1 victory over Appoquinimink.
