By Mike McClure
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that last Sunday’s Delaware District III Minor League softball second championship game in Millsboro was a one-run game. Laurel topped Nanticoke, 5-4, in winner’s bracket play, and Nanticoke earned a 7-6 win in the first championship game.
On Sunday, Nanticoke jumped out to a 2-0 lead and led 3-2 before Laurel scored three in the fifth inning. Laurel led, 7-3, going into the final inning and held off a Nanticoke rally to win, 7-6.
“It feels amazing. It’s been a long time since Laurel brought it home in this age group,” said Laurel manager Scott Hall, whose team has been practicing for the past month. “They deserve it as much as anybody. Nanticoke is a very good team too.”
Laurel threatened in the top of the first when Raelyn Hopkins hit a leadoff double and moved to third on a passed ball before being tagged out trying to score on a wild pitch. Myla Saunders reached on an error and Brielle Rivera collected an infield single before Nanticoke pitcher Alivia Weatherly got her second strikeout of the inning to strand the runners.
Seaford got on the board in the bottom of the inning. Madison Hill singled, went to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Weatherly, and Weatherly crossed the plate following a Laurel error.
Laurel starting pitcher Jordyn Hearne recorded a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the second inning. In the top of the third, Hopkins collected an infield single with two away and scored on an infield single by Ellie Beach. Beach came home on a single by Saunders to knot the score at 2-2.
Nanticoke regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning. Liberty James drew a leadoff walk and moved to second and third on a pair of wild pitches before scoring on a groundout by Hill (3-2).
In the top of the fourth, Laurel’s Scarlett Hall singled to lead off the inning, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Willin to tie things up at 4-4. Camden Dukes singled before Weatherly recorded two strikeouts to leave a pair of runners on base.
Saunders took the mound in place of Hearne in the bottom of the fourth, issuing a walk before striking out two Nanticoke batters to strand a runner on third. Laurel’s Ella Elliott hit a leadoff single in the fifth, went to second on a passed ball, and moved to third on a wild pitch while Hopkins walked to put runners on the corners. Saunders singled in Elliott and Hopkins for a 5-3 Laurel lead. Hill threw out a runner trying to steal third to end the inning. Saunders struck out three in the bottom of the inning as Nanticoke left another runner on third base.
Laurel picked up some insurance runs in the top half of the sixth, and as it turned out it would need them. Hall walked, Hearne singled, and Willin collected her third hit of the game to drive in Hall. Averee Cooper put down a sac bunt to plate Hearne (7-3).
In Nanticoke’s final at bat, James drew a leadoff walk before Saunders recorded a pair of strikeouts. Jalynn Lewis took a two-out walk and Weatherly reached on an infield single to score a run and put runners on the corners. Lewis scored on a wild pitch and Weatherly stole home on the throw back to the pitcher to make it a one run game. Saunders picked up her eighth strikeout in three innings to seal the win for Laurel.
“She came in and pitched like I knew she could,” Hall said of Saunders who came on in relief after starting the previous game. “We trusted in her (Hearne), that’s why we started her.”
Hall said the team worked on some things following Saturday’s loss in preparation for Sunday’s contest.
“We cleaned up a lot of stuff. We cut down on the walks,” said Hall. “We hit the ball every game.”
