Lewes goes undefeated, captures Pat Knight major title

In an all-Cape Pat Knight title game, Lewes capped off its undefeated 2024 tournament run with a 10-4 win over Milton, where the players who are now rivals will soon be allies. 

Milton’s only losses were at the hands of the champions, and before a five-run fourth inning, they kept things close with Lewes July 27. However, Lewes’ offense proved to be too much to handle, something the First Town squad exhibited game after game in this year’s tournament.

Cole Robson began the game with a walk, stealing second and reaching third on a passed ball before Ryan Craig’s ground out to second drove him home to give Milton a 1-0 lead. Lewes responded rather harshly with a four-run bottom of the first. A walk coupled with a pair of singles allowed Michael Scesa and Colton Pusey to score, giving Lewes the lead. Michael DiMuzio’s single plated the third run, while an error on the next at-bat allowed him to score, giving Lewes a 4-1 lead after one.

Following a scoreless second, Milton stormed back to tie things up in the third inning. With two outs, Robson singled before Craig smoked a double to left field, putting the pair at third and second. Pierce Czepiel drove in Robson and Dylan Redd plated Craig on back-to-back line drives.

Nolan Jones was struck by a pitch to start the fourth and came around to score during DiMuzio’s at-bat. DiMuzio’s walk was the first of three in a row, loading up the bases for Dalton Zmuda. A hotshot worm burner to left drove in DiMuzio and Lucas Skonieczki to pad Lewes’ lead at 7-4. With Phoenix Condon on third and Zmuda on second, Andrew Manz unleashed a rocket to right field. While many anticipated it landing beyond, the ball one-hopped to the fence as Condon and Zmuda scored, and Manz strolled into third. Pat Knight rules cap offenses at five runs per inning, and Lewes took its 9-4 lead into the fifth.

Knowing her team needed a spark, Milton’s Addie Dean blasted one into left field, racing to second to put pressure on the Lewes defense. Unfortunately for Milton, DiMuzio, who came on in relief, coerced the offense into a strikeout and two pop-ups, stranding Dean and Robson on the bases.

Chance Gunter kicked off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and advanced to second on Jackson McGinley’s liner to left. Before Colton Penney popped out, both runners advanced into scoring position. Due to the five-run limit, Milton needed to clamp down and brought its infielders in.

Lewes’ Devin Silva rolled one to shortstop Lynken Haines, who was able to make the throw to first for the out. During the throw, however, Gunter raced home to score the winning run, capping off an undefeated tournament and championship for Lewes with a 10-4 win.