By Lynn Schofer

The Delaware District III Minor League all-star baseball tournament opened last week in Woodbridge and both Woodbridge and Nanticoke played in the opening round of games. 

In the first game, Nanticoke took on Lewes with Yadir Sorcia pitching and Austin Ybarra behind the plate. Nanticoke played as visitors and in the top of the inning stranded Maximus Cavallini who reached on an error when the final hitter struck out. Lewes scored in the first inning on three walks, two hit batters, and two RBI singles. Nanticoke returned fire in the top of the second inning when Ybarra, Sorcia, and Ryker Mulford all walked that loaded the bases. Outfielder Griffin Lineweaver worked a walk that scored Ybarra for a 3-1 game score. 

PLAY AT THE PLATE- Woodbridge’s Miles Taylor puts the tag on a Georgetown player for the out at home plate. Photo by Lynn Schofer

Nanticoke changed pitchers three times in the second inning and gave up 10 runs on seven walks, a hit batter, three errors, and an RBI single. Right fielder Wyatt Myers made the first out of the inning on a fly ball to right field and Luke Willin collected a ground ball for the unassisted final out at third base.  

Willin singled to open the top of the third inning and Cavallini’s RBI double scored Willin. Vincent Delgado was hit by pitch and Ybarra singled to load the bases for Nanticoke. Lewes committed an error on a ground ball to third base that scored Cavallini and Delgado stole home on a wild pitch. Mulford walked home a run to score the fifth run for Nanticoke. In the bottom of the third inning Lewes scored seven runs for the 20-5 game ending score and first round win. Nanticoke would go on to play Woodbridge in round two of the tournament.  

In the second game of the tournament the host team Woodbridge took on Georgetown Little League all-stars. Miles Taylor pitched for Woodbridge and gave up two early runs before striking out two hitters to end the top of the first inning. Mason Rodgers walked to open the bottom of the inning but later was thrown out at home plate when Georgetown made a perfect recovery on a throwing error to second base for the out on Rodgers. Georgetown added a run in the second inning on two hit batters and a fielding error by Woodbridge.    

Woodbridge catcher Josh Usilton stopped Georgetown from stealing a base with his throw to second. Georgetown mounted an 12-0 lead in the fourth inning on four walks, a pass ball, two singles, and two RBI’s for the shut out win in the opening round of the Minor League all-star tournament. 

Woodbridge would go to play Nanticoke in round two of the tournament.