Delaware High School Softball Players Showcase Celebratory Moves at Media Day

From barking like dogs to swinging imaginary golf clubs, athletes get creative with their post-play celebrations.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:40pm

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Delaware high school softball players recently gathered for the annual Delaware Online High School Media Day at Frawley Stadium, where they showcased their unique celebratory rituals, or 'cellies,' after big plays. Players from teams across the state, including Archmere, Milford, and Cape Henlopen, shared their go-to celebration moves, ranging from mimicking golf swings to barking like dogs in the dugout.

Why it matters

High school sports are as much about camaraderie and team spirit as they are about athletic performance. These celebratory rituals help build team unity and allow players to express their personalities on the field. The media day event also provides an opportunity for the local community to connect with their high school athletes and get excited about the upcoming season.

The details

At the media day event, players from various Delaware high school softball teams shared their favorite celebratory moves. Madison Evans of Archmere softball likes to gesture to her parents in the outfield, while the Milford softball team prefers to 'bark like a loud, annoying dog' in the dugout. Dover catcher Ryan Perkins often borrows a golf swing celebration, and the Cape Henlopen softball team does a 'scuba' motion when hitting doubles, in addition to snacking on candy in the dugout.

  • The Delaware Online High School Media Day took place on April 1, 2026.
  • The event was held at Frawley Stadium, the state's only professional baseball stadium.

The players

Madison Evans

A softball player for Archmere High School who likes to gesture to her parents in the outfield as part of her celebratory rituals.

Madison Webb

A softball player for Milford High School who, along with her teammates, barks 'like a loud and annoying dog' in the dugout to celebrate.

Ryan Perkins

A catcher for the Dover High School softball team who borrows a golf swing celebration, as he is 'a big golf guy.'

Alivia Longo

A softball player for Cape Henlopen High School who, along with her teammates, does a 'scuba' motion when hitting doubles and also enjoys eating candy in the dugout.

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What they’re saying

“A big celly I like to do is I like to do a little motion to my parents in the outfield when they're watching. In the dugout, I like to be as loud as possible for every teammate I can, no matter who's up to bat.”

— Madison Evans, Archmere softball player

“We all just bark. ... A loud dog. A very loud and annoying dog.”

— Madison Webb, Milford softball player

“I'm a big golf guy, so I hit a little pitching wedge into the green.”

— Ryan Perkins, Dover High School catcher

“We do like a little scuba thing if we hit a double. We also like to eat candy in the dugout sometimes, so we'll just say, 'Hey, where's the candy at?'”

— Alivia Longo, Cape Henlopen softball player

The takeaway

High school sports are not just about athletic performance - they're also about building team camaraderie and allowing players to express their personalities. These celebratory rituals, or 'cellies,' showcase the fun and creativity of Delaware's high school softball players as they get ready for the upcoming season.