Cape/Georgetown Junior All-Stars win state championship

Mikey Jarrell tossed a two-hitter and Cape/Georgetown’s bats were on fire as the Junior League All-Stars defeated Smyrna/Clayton 13-0 in five innings to win the state championship July 28 at the Millsboro Little League complex. They will head to Freehold, N.J., Thursday, Aug. 2, to face a team from Torrington, Conn., in the first round of the Eastern Regional.

Jarrell threw a complete game, striking out eight Smyrna/Clayton batters, while allowing two hits and two walks. He tossed 73 pitches, of which 43 were strikes. He helped himself at the plate with a hit, a sac fly and two RBIs.

“My fastball was working well,” said Jarrell. “I just threw it right down the pipe. My curve was looking pretty good, too. Against the three, four and five hitters, I need to mix it up a little bit because they are usually better hitters.”

Cape/Georgetown had 10 hits in the victory. Josh Reinhold went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Jonathan Stokley went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and Kye Wells finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Vinny Dilorio also picked up an RBI.

“I hit a fastball right down the middle,” said Reinhold, who swam five events in the Delmarva Swim Championships earlier in the afternoon. “I like that stroke to left field better than my backstroke,” he said.

Hitchcock went 1-for-1 with a single and two walks, and scored three runs. He is looking forward to going back to the Eastern Regional.

“I’ve been in a little slump, but broke out of it tonight,” he said. “It feels good. I’m ready to move on to the next game.”

“It’s amazing to see the kids shine when they have the opportunity to do that,” said Cape/Georgetown manager Zac Crouch. “Some of them have been in Little League for a while and haven’t had this opportunity, so for them to get there, it’s been great. Some kids have been there a few times, and they are looking at it as another stepping stone for them. Travel ball is over on the weekend; Little League is once in a lifetime. Once you’ve aged out, you can’t go back.”

The Cape/Georgetown offense batted around twice in the game and scored seven runs in the fourth inning.

“That’s one thing we’ve always done, and it makes it easier for us as coaches when the boys hit,” Crouch said. “They hit the ball well tonight, and it just makes pitching, calling pitches, defense easier. All of our subs got in and got a lot of playing time.”

Cape/Georgetown will open play in Freehold, N.J., at 9 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 2.