Following a 2-1 loss to Milton last Wednesday in the winner’s bracket finals, the Laurel Major League all-star team battled back from the loser’s bracket to face Milton in the first championship game last Saturday in Milton, needing a pair of wins to take the Delaware District III title. Laurel took an early lead, but Milton scored four runs in the third inning and went on to win, 6-3.
Andrew Hitchens is safe at the plate for Laurel’s first run in last Saturday’s Major League all-star game in Milton. Photo by Mike McClure
Laurel hurler Cameron Deiter allowed a one-out single to Trey Dickinson but the Laurel defense turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Andrew Hitchens drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a groundout and scored on an infield single by A.J. Cannon for a 1-0 Laurel lead. Milton turned a double play to end the inning, although the runner at second appeared to be safe.
Milton’s Joe Ruark singled in the second before Deiter retired the next three batters, recording a pair of strikeouts. Laurel’s Tristen Johnson and Kade Willey each singled in the second, however, Laurel left a pair of runners on base.
In the top of the third, Nate Kristunas hit a one out single and scored following a Laurel error and Ruark hit a three-run home run (4-1).
Hitchens led off the bottom of the inning with a single, Deiter walked, the runners moved up on a wild pitch, and Hitchens scored on a second wild pitch. Deiter came home on a groundout by Cannon to pull Laurel within one at 4-3.
Dickinson hit a two-out single and scored on a single in the fourth to up Milton’s lead to two. In the top of the fifth, Milton loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, single, and a walk. One run came home on a passed ball before a groundout ended the inning (6-3).
Hitchens hit a leadoff double before getting hung up between second and third on a ball hit by Deiter in the bottom of the fifth. Cannon singled to put runners on first and second, but Milton turned a double play to end the threat, although the runner at first appeared to be safe.
Milton collected a pair of hits in the sixth before Laurel relief pitcher Josiah Phillips got a strikeout and a pop out to leave a pair of ducks on the pond. In Laurel’s final at bat, Johnson led off with a walk, but a fielder’s choice, fly out, and strikeout ended the inning, clinching the District III championship for Milton.
