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Rush Friedberg's eighth inning single to right field scored Kenneth Schaedel in a close play at the plate as the Cape Henry Collegiate Dolphins defeated the Steward School Spartans 4-3 on Friday afternoon.

The Dolphins struck quickly in this game and looked like they might make it a quick one as Cape scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning off a Dane Hoggard single to left and another infield single off the bat of Trent Jones. That quick offense made the score 2-0 after one.

Cape Henry starter 2019 RHP Aiden Kuhle (Roanoke) started out extremely effective for the Dolphins, shutting down the Steward offense to the tune of a no hits thru five innings. Spartans starter Harrison Clifton would settle down after a rocky first frame and quiet Cape Henry after. As we headed into the bottom of the fifth inning, the score remained 2-0 Cape Henry.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kuhle helped his own cause hitting a double to right field and scoring the runner all the way from first base. The Dolphins would take that 3-0 lead into the to pof the sixth.

That was when the Spartan offense would finally strike, and strike it did. Steward would start the inning with a leadoff single off the bat of 2021 1B Ethan Hopp. Following that, 2019 C Will Glazebrook (UNC Pembroke) would get hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. Next hitter Logan Ransom would lay down a sac bunt to advance the runners with the first out. An infield single off a high chopper from Matt Gaither gave the Spartans their first run. An Alex Poling sac fly to center would get Steward their second run of the inning and cut into the lead at 3-2 after six.

The Spartans again proved resilient in the top of the seventh. After two quick outs looked like gloom for the Steward chances, the Spartans would get three consecutive singles from Michael Schamus, Grayson Rose, and Hopp again. Hopp's second single of the game scored Schamus and tied up the score at three-all. Cape Henry was unable to counter in the bottom half and we headed to extras.

Steward was able to get a runner to third with two outs in the top of the eighth, but Schaedel was able to end the threat with a nice place at third to get the out and keep the score tied heading to the bottom half. Two quick outs would start the bottom of the eighth, but Schaedel would reach base on a two-out error and advance to second to keep the inning alive. Friedberg then singled through the right side to right. Schaedel would head home as the throw from the outfield came in. The throw pulled the catcher off the plate, as Schaedel was coming in to score. Both players met and Schaedel elected not to slide, instead sneaking his foot in on the plate beating a high tag where he was ruled safe and the game was over.

Gaither and Hopp each led the Spartans with two hits and an RBI in the game.

Kuhle helped his own cause going 3-for-4 with an RBI. He went all eight innings, throwing only 94 pitches with a 75% strike rate. he struck out 10 with no walks and allowed six hits. Bryce Jones and Schaedel each had two hits apiece for the Dolphins.