Mid-Sussex Senior baseball sweeps Western Sussex in championship

Western Sussex’s Matthew Taylor attempts a double play on an infield ground ball out in the first game against Mid-Sussex last week in Seaford. Photo by Lynn Schofer

The powerful offense and consistent pitching helped Mid-Sussex sweep Western Sussex in two games, 11-6 and 16-5, played at Nanticoke Little League to capture the Delaware District III Senior League championship. Mid-Sussex utilized extra-base hits, including back-to-back home runs in the first game and an explosive eight-run third inning in the second game, to win the banner and move on to the state tournament.

In the first game, Mid-Sussex opened against pitcher Mason Beauchamp with hits by Devon West and Matthew Taylor, placing runners into scoring position. Western Sussex stopped the threat with a final ground ball out. Western Sussex answered with an opening single by Uriah Taylor-Brown. David Irwin then sent a sinking fly ball to center field, and Zac Parker laid out for the diving catch. Wyatt Woods singled up the middle, but a fly ball to center field ended the inning, stranding two runners.

Mid-Sussex scored first in the top of the second inning, opening with a single by Austin Carter and two walks by pitcher Woods that loaded the bases. Lincoln Moore’s RBI fielder’s choice scored the run, followed by a wild pitch, a walk, and a second RBI fielder’s choice. Mid Sussex’s Braydan Farrington connection scored two runs on a fielding error at second base for the 4-0 lead.

The lead was increased at the top of the third inning on back-to-back home runs by Dylan Lingo and Carter. Moore’s sacrifice fly scored Denny Alo, who was on third base from an earlier base on balls. Western Sussex third baseman West gloved the next two outs to end the inning.

Western Sussex’s bats came alive in the bottom of the third inning, opening with a walk and single by Taylor-Brown, who advanced to second base on the throw back to the infield. Shortstop David Irwin connected for a two-run RBI hit to right field, and then Tyler Hitchens put the ball over the fence for a home run and a 6-4 score. Mid-Sussex added a run in the top of the fourth inning, and Western Sussex stranded two runners in the bottom of the inning for a 7-4 score.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Western Sussex’s Liam Countryman singled, and a single by Adrian Beronza-Hernandez put runners at the corner. The bases were loaded, and Taylor’s hit to left field scored two runs for a 7-6 score.

In the top of the sixth inning, Hitchens came to the mound in relief, and Mid-Sussex went down in order. In the top of the seventh, Mid-Sussex went on a scoring frenzy, taking an 11-6 on three hits and four walks. The deficit was too much for Western Sussex and Countryman opened with a single and was stranded on the final out of the game.

The two teams returned to Nanticoke Little League in Seaford for the second championship game, opening with Taylor-Brown on the mound for Western Sussex while Parker pitched for Mid-Sussex.

The Mid-Sussex team controlled the momentum and the base paths, outscoring Western Sussex 16-5 in a shortened five-inning championship game. Parker pitched a complete game in the win.

The Western Sussex team scored first in the bottom of the first inning. Taylor-Brown bunted for a single and Taylor singled. Hitchens singled scoring Taylor-Brown but was thrown out attempting to stretch the single into a double. A sacrifice fly by Kalib Thompson scored the second run of the inning.

Mid-Sussex came back in the second inning scoring on a walk, two singles, a passed ball, and sacrifice fly that tied the game. The Western Sussex team took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with two outs on a single by Beauchamp and an RBI off the bat of Uriah Taylor-Brown.

In the third inning Mid-Sussex sent 12 players to the plate scoring eight runs. Western Sussex’s Taylor-Brown struggled with control on the mound giving up four walks, a double, and a single. Mid-Sussex’s Coy Collins hit a two-run RBI to right field, and teammates West and Dylan Lingo collected RBIs for a 10-3 score before the inning ended.

Western Sussex scored two unearned runs in the third inning, taking advantage of two errors by Mid-Sussex. In the top of the fourth Mid-Sussex upped the score to 13-5 as Western Sussex had three errors.

Lingo avoided the tag of Western Sussex by twirling in the air on a ground ball to first base. A single by Carter and Parker and a line drive down the first base line into right field upped the score 16-5. Thompson took the mound and scored the final two outs to go into the bottom of the fifth inning. Parker kept the ball low for three infield ground outs to win the District championship.