Sports

With the debut of Lower Sussex’s Pop Warner Football program, Paris Mitchell Sr. wasted no time giving back to the community where he lived and raised his family. He coached a young football team, and, as his children grew up through the program, they suited up and took to the field, as well.

Indian River High School head track-and-field coach Bob Hahn understood that Tuesday’s tri-meet against Dover and Milford would be a tough one, but with just a couple meets left in the season, the focus has shifted from wins and losses to individualized performances, as the Henlopen Conference and state tournaments emerge into view.

The Lady Indians held together for a marathon match this past Tuesday, April 24, and, after more than three hours, they pulled out a 3-2 win over visiting Dover, improving their season record to 7-3.

When husband-and-wife team George and Janis Markopoulos first began Delmarva Board Sport Adventures in 2010, they didn’t realize just how much success they’d find.

On Friday, April 20, Indian River High School seniors Laura Seitz and Taylor Lewis signed their letters of intent to continue their education and carry on their athletic performance at the collegiate level this fall.

It has been more than a decade since Indian River High School’s varsity girls’ soccer team saw a record fail to go positive, but with a 4-4 record at this season’s midpoint, head coach Steve Kilby knows there needs to be some changes if they are to finish out on the same high note that they have displayed in years past.

Ahh, all is right in the sports world these days.

The Indian River High School varsity golf team shot a collective 195 earlier this week, as they hosted Milford at Cripple Creek Country Club on Tuesday, April 17. The score may have been the team’s second highest so far this season, but it was still good enough for another mark in the win column, which has kept the Indians undefeated so far. The Indians’ 195-203 victory marks the team’s fifth straight, but there’s plenty more competition ahead.

Lady Indians third-singles tennis player Delaney McMullen picked up her fifth win of the season with a 6-0, 6-2, victory over Milford’s Kellie Topolski on Monday, April 16. The junior has helped propel the young, developing team to a 4-2 record on the year.

In the debut year of the school’s junior-varsity lacrosse team, Indian River has wasted no time showing their true potential. This past Monday, April 16, the Indians defeated the Worcester Prep junior-varsity Ducks team, 10-4, improving their season record to 3-1. First-year head coach Jim Dietsch was thrilled with the team’s performance and said he hopes that the talent and ambition of the athletes will be carried over next season, when Indian River plans to unveil a varsity squad for the first time.

Indian River High School’s girls’ varsity soccer team brought physical play and aggression to Cape Henlopen on Tuesday, April 17, but it was the Lady Vikings who capitalized with a goal in the final minute of regulation, delivering the Indians their third loss of the year.

Last season, Seaford’s varsity boys’ tennis team narrowly edged Indian River for the Southern Henlopen Division title. Both finished their regular season 11-2, with one loss apiece – to each other – and one loss each to defending conference champions Caesar Rodney, out of the Henlopen North. The title came down to games allowed at the end of the season, which gave the Blue Jays the upper hand. And, by the look of this season, the Indians are facing another dramatic year.

After succumbing to a couple of upstate powerhouses, Indian River High School’s varsity baseball team bounced back on Tuesday, April 16, as they handled Seaford, 10-0, forcing a mercy rule in the fifth inning, behind clutch pitching and hitting throughout the lineup. The win brought the Indians up to a 4-4 record on the year and kept the Blue Jays of Seaford winless so far this season.

Steady bats on a consistent offense combined with stellar pitching and a supporting defensive cast for Indian River High School’s varsity baseball team as they defeated the Golden Knights of Sussex Central at the Pyle Center in Roxana, 7-1, earlier this week. The Monday night game under the lights turned the Indians’ record around to 3-2, after last week’s doubleheader against Maryland competition.

The Lady Indians’ varsity softball season was dealt another blow this week, after a 1-2 start, as the Lady Knights of Sussex Central bested Indian River 15-4 at the Pyle Center in Roxana this past Monday, April 9. After a dominant first inning from the Knights, Indian River found themselves in a hole, and Central all but extinguished them with a seven-run inning in the fifth.